Confederate military history : a library of Confederate States history, in twelve volumes

SIS

NUNC COGNOSCO EX PARTE

TRENT UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

PRESENTED BY

Dr. L. J. Calvert

lesue a CAiveRT^

Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2019 with funding from
Kahle/Austin Foundation

https://archive.org/details/confederatemilit0000unse_e9j7

Confederate
Military History

A LIBRARY OF CONFEDERATE
STATES HISTORY, IN TWELVE
VOLUMES, WRITTEN BY DISTIN¬
GUISHED MEN OF THE SOUTH,
AND EDITED BY GEN. CLEMENT
A. EVANS OF GEORGIA .

VOL. VI.

Atlanta, Ga.

Confederate Publishing Company
1899

¥

Copyright, 1899,

by Confederate Publishing Company.

*

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

PAGE.

CHAPTER I. The Legislature of i860 — Convention Provided
For — Occupation of Fort Pulaski — The Secession Conven¬
tion — Seizure of the Augusta Arsenal and Oglethorpe Bar¬
racks . 3

CHAPTER II. Organization and Other Events in the State,
Lom Spring until Close of 1861 — Early Record of Georgians
Outside the State, Previous to Manassas — Coast Operations

in Georgia in 1861 (including Port Royal) . 18

CHAPTER III. Georgia Troops in Virginia — Laurel Hill,
Carrick’s Ford and First Manassas — Death of Bartow —
Cheat Mountain, Greenbrier River and Camp Alleghany —

Georgians in North Carolina — Events at Pensacola . 64

CHAPTER IV. Events of 1862 — Naval Operations Below Sa¬
vannah — Organization for Defense — Lee Succeeded by Pem¬
berton — The State Troops— Fall of Fort Pulaski — Hunter’s

Orders — Skirmish on Whitemarsh Island . 82

CHAPTER V. Battle of Shiloh — Andrews’ Raid — The Third
Infantry at South Mills — The Conscript Act and State
Troops — Georgians under Bragg and Kirby Smith — Naval
Affairs — Depredations in the Coast Region — War Legisla¬
tion — Chickasaw Bayou and Murfreesboro . 94

CHAPTER VI. Sketches of Georgia Commands . 112

CHAPTER VII. Georgia Troops in Virginia in 1862 — Yorktown
— Seven Pines — The Valley Campaign — Seven Days’ Battles 159
CHAPTER VIII. Cedar (Slaughter’s) Mountain, Second
Manassas, South Mountain, Harper’s Ferry, Sharpsburg,

Fredericksburg . 177

CHAPTER IX. Georgia in 1863 — Fort McAllister — Destruction
of the Nashville — Organization on the Coast in March — The
Defenses of Savannah — Loss of the Atlanta — Streight’s

Raid and Capture — Distress in the State . 201

CHAPTER X. The Battle of Chancellorsville . 212

CHAPTER XI. Battle of Champion’s Hill — Siege of Vicksburg

— The Gettysburg Campaign . 220

CHAPTER XII. The Coast of South Carolina, Georgia and

Florida, July to December, 1863 . 236

CHAPTER XIII. The Chickamauga Campaign — Rosecrans’
Advance in Northwest Georgia — Bragg Evacuates Chatta¬
nooga — The Maneuvers in the Mountains — The Two Days’
Battle on Chickamauga Creek— Rosecrans Defeated and

Penned in at Chattanooga . 241

CHAPTER XIV. The Knoxville Campaign — Battle of Mis¬
sionary Ridge — Battle of Ringgold Gap — Retreat to Dalton
— Gen. J. E. Johnston Given Command— Close of 1863 . 264

V

VI

CONTENTS.

PAGE.

CHAPTER XV. The Campaigns of 1864 — Battle of Olustee —
Operations near Savannah— The Wilderness to Cold Harbor

— Georgia Troops Engaged — Early’s Valley Campaign . 283

CHAPTER XVI. The Atlanta Campaign— February Fighting
near Dalton — Organization of Johnston’s Army — Campaign
from Dalton to the Chattahoochee — Resaca, New Hope
Church and Kenesaw Mountain — Battles about Atlanta —

Wheeler’s Raid — Jonesboro and the Evacuation . 296

CHAPTER XVII. The Fate of Atlanta — Hood’s Advance in
North Georgia — Attack on Allatoona — Sherman’s March to
the Sea — Fall of Fort McAllister — Evacuation of Savannah

— Georgians in the Nashville Campaign . 353

CHAPTER XVIII. Final Campaign in Virginia— Georgia
Commands at Appomattox — Campaign of the Carolinas —

Wilson’s Raid . 376

BIOGRAPHICAL . 387

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

FACING PAGE.

Alexander, E. Porter . 428

Anderson, George T . 396

Anderson, Robert H . 396

Atlanta, Ga. (Map) . 333

Bartow, Francis S . 396

Benning, Henry L . 428

Boggs, William R . 396

Browne, William M . 416

Bryan, Goode . 396

Chickamauga, Battle of (Map) . 248

Chickamauga Campaign (Map) . Between pages 260 and 261

Cobb, Howell . 428

Cobb, Thomas R. R . 428

Colquitt, Alfred H . 428

Cook, Philip . 396

Crews, Charles C . 416

Cumming, Alfred . 396

Dalton to Jonesboro, Atlanta Campaign (Map) . 296

Derry, Joseph T . 1

Doles, George . 396

DuBose, Dudley M . 428

Evans, Clement A . 416

Gardner, William M . 396

Gartrell, Lucius J . 428

Georgia (Map). . . . Between pages 386 and 387

Girardey, Victor J. B . 396

Harrison, George P . 416

Iverson, Alfred . 428

Jackson, Henry R . 416

Jackson, John K . 416

Lawton, Alexander R . 428

McLaws, Lafayette . 416

Mercer, Hugh W . 444

St. John, Isaac M . 444

Savannah, Ga. (Map) . Between pages 368 and 369

Semmes, Paul J . 444

Simms, James P . 4l6

Smith, William D..,c . 444

Sorrel, G. Moxley . 4J6

Stovall, Marcellus A . 444

Thomas, Bryan M . 428

Thomas, Edward L . 4l6

Twiggs, David E . 444

Walker, William H. T . 444

Wayne, Harry C . 444

Willis, Edward . 444

Wilson, Claudius C . 444

Wofford, William T . 444

Wright, Ambrose R . 444

Young, Pierce M. B . 416

VII

V

1

JOSEPH T. BERRY

t

GEORGIA

BY

Joseph T. Derry, A. M.

Author of School History of the United States; Story of the
Confederate War, etc.

CHAPTER I.

THE LEGISLATURE OF i860— CONVENTION PROVIDED
FOR— OCCUPATION OF FORT PULASKI— THE SECES¬
SION CONVENTION — SEIZURE OF THE AUGUSTA
ARSENAL AND OGLETHORPE BARRACKS.

QUICKLY following the day of the national elec¬
tion of i860, the returns made it evident to all
that Abraham Lincoln would be the next presi¬
dent of the United States. The Republican party, whose
candidate he was, had originated in 1856 as a strictly sec¬
tional party, and among other hurtful policies had made
war on the slave property of the South. Now that it
had become strong enough to elect a President by the
vote of Northern States alone, its success aroused the
fears, as well as the indignation, of the Southern people.
In many of the counties of Georgia public meetings were
held and resolutions were adopted urging the legislature,
about to meet, to provide for the defense of the State
against the aggression to be feared from the sectional
party that, after the 4th of March, 1861, would hold the
reins of government.

The legislature met early in November, i860. Influ¬
enced by apprehension of impending peril, Gov. Joseph
E. Brown recommended that it should authorize com¬
mercial reprisal to meet the nullification by Northern
States of the national fugitive slave law ; the calling of a
convention of the people, and the appropriation of
$1,000,000 for defense. A convention of military com¬
panies, presided over by John W. Anderson, assembled
at Milledgeville, November 10, i860, and adopted a reso¬
lution to the effect that, “Georgia can no longer remain
in the Union consistently with her safety and best inter-

3

4

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

est. ’ ’ This convention of soldiers also favored the appro¬
priation of $1,000,000 for military purposes recommended
by the governor, and supported their action by the tender
of their services. The legislature also promptly re¬
sponded to the governor’s recommendations by cre¬
ating the office of adjutant-general of the State, to which
position Henry C. Wayne was appointed; authorizing
the acceptance of 10,000 troops by the governor, and the
purchase of 1,000 Maynard rifles and carbines for coast
defense; appropriating the great sum recommended for
military purposes, and providing for an election on the
first Wednesday of January, 1861, of delegates to a con¬
vention which should determine the course of the State
in the emergency. The call for this convention was pref¬
aced by the words: “Whereas, The present crisis in our
national affairs, in the judgment of the general assembly,
demands resistance ; and Whereas, It is the privilege and
right of the sovereign people to determine upon the
mode, measure and time of such resistance.’’

Notwithstanding these warlike preparations, there was
in many sections of the State a strong sentiment against
disunion. The vote for presidential candidates in Georgia
is a fair criterion of the sentiment in the State prior
to the election of Mr. Lincoln. There were three elec¬
toral tickets: One for Breckinridge and Lane, one for
Bell and Everett, one for Douglas and Johnson, but none
for Lincoln and Hamlin. The vote stood as follows:
Breckinridge and Lane, 51,893; Bell and Everett, 42,855 ;
Douglas and Johnson, 11,580. As the Breckinridge
ticket was favored by the most pronounced Southern
rights men, the vote in Georgia showed a small majority
against immediate secession by separate State action.
But the election of Mr. Lincoln by a purely sectional
vote set the current toward secession, causing the tide of
disunion sentiment to rise with steadily increasing vol¬
ume, and strengthening the views and fears of those who
could see relief only by withdrawing from a union which

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

5

had fallen under the control of a party favoring a policy
so antagonistic to the rights and interests of the South.
Yet even at this stage there was a small minority who
resolutely strove to stem the swelling tide. A speech
was made by Alexander H. Stephens before the legisla¬
ture, firmly opposing immediate disunion; while, on the
other hand, Howell Cobb, in a letter apparently invin¬
cible in logic, demanded immediate secession. Herschel
V. Johnson and Benjamin H. Hill stood by Stephens.

The momentous news that the convention of South
Carolina had adopted an ordinance of secession from the
United States, telegraphed to the important cities and
towns of Georgia on the afternoon of December 20, i860,
added impetus to the universal excitement, and to the
enthusiasm of those who favored immediate secession.
Popular approval of this decisive step was manifested in
all the large cities and towns by the firing of cannon, the
ringing of bells, and bonfires. The volunteer companies
of the State that had been organized under acts of the
legislature began to offer their services to the governor,
and many new companies were formed even in Decem¬
ber, i860.

As the convention was to meet January 16, 1861, all
acts savoring of State independence would normally
have been postponed until after the result of its deliber¬
ations should be announced. But in the latter part of
December the fears of the people of Georgia were
aroused by the action of the United States garrison of
Fort Moultrie in abandoning that exposed position and
taking possession of Fort Sumter, where, isolated from
land approach and nearer the open sea, reinforcements
and provisions might be expected and resistance made to
the demand of the State for the relinquishment of its
territory. On the Georgia coast there were two United
States forts, Jackson and Pulaski, near Savannah. One
of these, Fort Pulaski, was situated (similarly to Sumter)
at the mouth of the Savannah river, on Tybee Roads.

6

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

It could be supplied with troops and munitions from the
sea with little risk, and once properly manned and
equipped would, in the judgment of military experts, be
practically impregnable. A few months later the chief
engineer of the United States army expressed the opinion
that “the work could not be reduced in a month’s firing
with any number of manageable calibers.’’ The fort
was of brick, with five faces, casemated on all sides, and
surrounded by a ditch filled with water. The massive
walls, seven and a half feet thick, rose twenty-five feet
"above high water, mounting one tier of guns in casemates
and one in barbette. The gorge face was covered by a
demi-lune of good relief, arranged for one tier of guns
in barbette, and was also provided with a ditch. The
marshy formation, Cockspur island, on which Pulaski
stood, was surrounded by broad channels of deep water,
and the only near approach to it, on ground of tolerable
firmness, was along a narrow strip of shifting sand on
Tybee island.

The people of Savannah, familiar with the situation,
thought they were menaced by a danger as great as that
of Sumter to Charleston; that even a few days’ delay
might permit this isolated fort to be made effective in
closing the main seaport of Georgia, and that once
strongly manned, it would be impossible to reduce it with
ordnance such as could soon be obtained by the State.
Capt. William H. C. Whiting, of the United States army
engineers, who had an office in Savannah at that time,
was absent at Fort Clinch, on the St. Mary’s, and Ord¬
nance-Sergeant Walker with a fort keeper was in charge
at the works ; only twenty guns were in the fort and the
supply of ammunition was meager. Governor Brown,
being advised of the situation at Savannah, and of the
probability that Pulaski and Jackson would be seized by
the people, visited the city, and after consultation with the
citizens took the appropriate step of ordering an imme¬
diate occupation. The earnest spirit of the citizens of

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

7

Savannah was manifested on the night of January ist,
by a number of persons dressed in citizens’ clothes but
armed with muskets and revolvers, who boarded the
revenue cutter J. C. Dobbin and announced that they
had come in force, largely outnumbering the crew, to
take the vessel in the name of Georgia. The commander
surrendered promptly and the Palmetto flag was raised
and saluted. The leader in this affair was C. A. Greiner,
who went north later, and was arrested at Philadelphia,
April 29th, on the charge of having committed treason
in this act and in participating in the seizure of Fort
Pulaski.

On January 2, 1861, as commander-in-chief of the
Georgia militia, Governor Brown issued an order to Col.
A. R. Lawton, commanding the First volunteer regiment
of Georgia, at Savannah, which opens with these words,
deserving quotation as ably stating the reasons and justi¬
fication for the occupation of Fort Pulaski :

Sir: In view of the fact that the government at Wash¬
ington has, as we are informed upon high authority,
decided on the policy of coercing a seceded State back
into the Union, and it is believed now has a movement
on foot to reinforce Fort Sumter at Charleston, and to
occupy with Federal troops the Southern forts, including
Fort Pulaski in this State, which, if done, would give the
Federal government in any contest great advantage over
the people of this State ; to the end, therefore, that this
stronghold, which commands also the entrance into Geor¬
gia, may not be occupied by any hostile force until the
convention of the State of Georgia, which is to meet on
the 1 6th inst., has decided on the policy which Georgia
will adopt in this emergency, you are ordered to take
possession of Fort Pulaski as by public order herewith,
and to hold it against all persons, to be abandoned only
under orders from me or under compulsion by an over¬
whelming hostile force.

There was an enthusiastic rivalry among the militia
companies at Savannah for the honor of this service.
Colonel Lawton selected details from the Chatham artil-

8

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

lery, under Capt. Joseph S. Cleghorn, an officer who was
also charged by the governor with all matters relating
to ordnance; from the Savannah Guards, Capt. John
Screven, and from the Oglethorpe Light Infantry, Capt.
Francis S. Bartow, whose brilliant eloquence had been
devoted to the cause of separation. This force, number¬
ing 134 men, was carried by boat to Cockspur island on
the morning of the 3d, and the occupation was effected
without resistance from the few men in the works, who
were allowed to continue in their quarters without
duress. The militia under Colonel Lawton immediately
hoisted a State flag — a red lone star on a white ground —
which they greeted with a salute, and then set to work
putting the fort in order, mounting the guns, and pre¬
paring ammunition. The Savannah ladies furnished the
cartridge bags, as well as dainty additions to the rations
of the soldiers, in which acceptable service they took
pride.

On January 6th Captain Whiting, a North Carolinian
who afterward held the rank of major-general in the
Confederate States service, having been notified of the
movement of the State troops, returned to Savannah,
and on the next day reported to his chief, General Tot¬
ten, at Washington:

This morning I proceeded to Fort Pulaski, which I
found occupied by Georgia troops, commanded by Col¬
onel Lawton. I was received with great civility, and
informed by him that he held possession of all the gov¬
ernment property for the present, by order of the gover¬
nor of the State, and intended to preserve it from loss or
damage. He requested a return of the public property,
both ordnance and engineer, which I have given as exist¬
ing January 1st. . . . I have directed Ordnance- Sergeant
Walker to report at Oglethorpe barracks until further
orders. The fort keeper I have discharged. ... It is
necessary to inform you that the telegraph is in the hands
of the State authorities, and no message of a military or
political character is allowed to be sent or delivered except
by permission of the governor. ... As to the Savannah

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

9

river improvement, no interference with the property-
belonging’ to the appropriation has been attempted, nor
is any at present anticipated. I have therefore directed
the discharge of all employes except a watchman. Fort
Jackson remains as heretofore.

This occupation of Fort Pulaski was celebrated with
great fervor by the people of Savannah, and public meet¬
ings held at various other places expressed a warm
approval. The State convention, meeting two weeks
later, by resolution sustained the governor in his “ener¬
getic and patriotic conduct, ’ ’ and requested him to retain
possession of the fort until the relations of Georgia and
the Federal government should be determined. Having
telegraphed advices of what he had done to the governors
of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, Gover¬
nor Brown soon had the satisfaction of receiving the
endorsement of similar action on their part.

On the day following the occupation of Fort Pulaski,
the officers of the volunteer companies of Macon, Capts.
R. A. Smith, E. Fitzgerald, T. M. Parker, L. M. Lamar,
E. Smith and Lieut. W. H. Ross, telegraphed the gov¬
ernor, asking if he would “sanction the movement of
Georgia volunteers going to the aid of South Carolina;”
but this generous impulse was very properly checked,
pending the action of the State convention.

By act of the legislature, a sovereign convention had
been summoned to meet at Milledgeville on January 6,
1861, to decide upon the action to be taken by the State
of Georgia. Among the delegates were some of the
ablest men that Georgia has produced. Immediate seces¬
sion was advocated by Thomas R. R. Cobb, Francis S.
Bartow and Robert Toombs, while Alexander H. Ste¬
phens, Benjamin H. Hill and Herschel V. Johnson used
all their influence for delay until there could be a con¬
gress of the Southern States to take united action. But
all parties pledged Georgia to resist any effort at coer¬
cion of a sovereign State. On the 19th of January, 1861,
Ga 2

10

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

the ordinance of secession was adopted, and the presi¬
dent of the convention, ex-Gov. George W. Crawford,
briefly and impressively announced that the State of
Georgia was now free, sovereign and independent. As
soon as the result was announced to the great throng
assembled outside, the people applauded, the cannon
thundered a salute, and that night Milledgeville was bril¬
liantly illuminated. Similar demonstrations occurred in
all the large towns and cities of the State.

Having resumed its original position as a sovereign,
independent republic, Georgia began preparing for the
maintenance of independence by force of arms. The
presence of troops of the United States within the State’s
borders became inadmissible because they were a menace
to its freedom. The United States property within the
State was a question for settlement between the govern¬
ments, but soldiers in arms, subject to the orders of the
United States, must be withdrawn.

The arsenal, situated near Augusta, consisting of a
group of buildings on the summits of salubrious sand¬
hills, contained a battery of artillery, 20,000 stand of
muskets, and a large quantity of munitions, guarded by
a company of United States troops under command of
Capt. Arnold Elzey, of Maryland. The occupation of
this arsenal was necessary. The sentiment favoring the
seizure was increased by the arrival, on January 10th, of
an ordnance detachment, which had been ordered by Col.
H. K. Craig, chief of ordnance at Washington, to report
at that place after it had been ejected from the Charles¬
ton arsenal by the State authorities of South Carolina.
Captain Elzey, in his report to Washington of the trans¬
fer, said:

This movement on the part of Colonel Craig I believe
to be wholly unauthorized by the war department. It
was injudicious and impolitic, added much to the excite¬
ment in Augusta, and was very nigh producing serious
difficulties in this quarter, the people believing it to be

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

11

a reinforcement to my command. I had no previous
knowledge of it whatever.

On January 23d, Governor Brown, accompanied by his
aide-de-camp, Hon. Henry R. Jackson, who had experi¬
enced military life as a colonel of a Georgia regiment in
Mexico, and Col. William Phillips, visited Captain Elzey
and made a verbal request that he withdraw his com¬
mand from the State. Upon that officer’s refusal, Col.
Alfred Cumming, commanding the Augusta battalion of
militia, was ordered to put his force in readiness for
action to support the governor’s demand.

An official report succinctly describing an event of
great importance at that period of the State’s history,
was made by Captain Elzey to Col. Samuel Cooper,
adjutant-general of the United States army, but soon to
be the adjutant-general of the Confederacy:

Sir: In compliance with your letter of this date, I
have the honor to submit the following complete report
of the surrender of the United States arsenal at Augusta,
Ga. :

On the morning of the 23d of January I received from
the governor of Georgia, then in Augusta, backed by a
superior force of State troops numbering some 600 or
700, a verbal demand of the arsenal, which I refused.
Shortly after came through his aide-de-camp a written
demand in the following terms, the substance of which
was telegraphed by me to the war department, to wit :

Sir: I am instructed by his excellency Governor Brown to say to
you that, Georgia having seceded from the United States of America
and resumed exclusive sovereignty over her soil, it has become his
duty to require you to withdraw the troops under your com¬
mand, at the earliest practicable moment, from the limits of the
State. He proposes to take possession of the arsenal, and to receipt
for all public property under your charge, which will be accounted
for on adjustment between the State of Georgia and the United
States of America. He begs to refer you to the fact that the reten¬
tion of your troops upon the soil of Georgia after remonstrance, is
under the laws of nations an act of hostility, and he claims that the
State is not only at peace but anxious to cultivate the most amicable
relations with the United States government. I am further
instructed to say that an answer will be expected by to-morrow
morning at 9 o’clock.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Henry R. Jackson, Aide-de-Camp, etc.

12

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

About i o’clock on the night of the 23d of January, I
received from the war department the following reply to
my telegram:

Capt. Arnold Elzey, Second Artillery, Commanding Augusta Arse¬
nal, Georgia:

The governor of Georgia has assumed against your post and
the United States an attitude of war. His summons is harsh
and peremptory. It is not expected that your defense shall be des¬
perate. If forced to surrender by violence or starvation, you will
stipulate for honorable terms and a free passage by water with your
company to New York. J. Holt, Secretary of War.

To have resisted such a force, then ready to attack me,
with my knowledge of large reinforcements at Savannah
and Atlanta ready to come up by rail at a moment’s
warning, would have been desperation in my weak posi¬
tion. I therefore directed my adjutant to address and
convey the following note in reply to the governor’s
demand :

Headquarters Augusta Arsenal, January 24, 1861.
Col. H. R. Jackson, Aide-de-Camp:

Sir : I have the honor to inform you that I am directed by Captain
Elzey, commanding this post, to say, in reply to the demands of the
governor of Georgia, made through you yesterday, requesting him
to withdraw his command beyond the limits of the State, he begs to
request an interview with his excellency the governor, for the pur¬
pose of negotiating honorable terms of surrender at as early an hour
this morning as practicable.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. P. Jones, Lieutenant Second Artillery, Post Adjutant.

About 10 o’clock of the same morning the governor,
accompanied by his staff and Brigadier-General Harris,
commanding the troops, rode up to my quarters, and
were received by me, when the following honorable
terms were agreed upon and executed :

“His excellency the governor of Georgia, having
demanded the United States arsenal at Augusta, com¬
manded by Capt. Arnold Elzey, Second artillery, United
States army, the following terms are agreed upon, to
wit:

“(1) The flag to be saluted and lowered by the United
States troops. (2) The company to be marched out with
military honors and to retain its arms and company
property. (3) The officers and soldiers to occupy quar¬
ters until removed beyond the limits of the State, and to
have the use of the post transportation to and from the
city and in the neighborhood, and the privilege of obtain-

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

13

ing supplies from the city. (4) The public property to
be receipted for by the State authorities, and accounted
for upon adjustment between the State of Georgia and
the United States of America. (5) The troops to have
unobstructed passage through and out of the State by
water, to New York, via Savannah.

Joseph E. Brown,

Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the
State of Georgia.

Arnold Elzey, Captain Second Artillery,
Commanding Augusta Arsenal.

On January 23d, when Captain Elzey’s answer remained
in doubt, some 800 volunteers of the city were put under
arms, and others came in from the country. The Augusta
volunteers engaged in the capture of the arsenal con-
sisted of the following companies : Oglethorpe Infantry,
Clinch Rifles, Irish Volunteers, Montgomery Guards,
two companies of minute men (one of which became the
Walker Light Infantry), Washington Artillery and Rich¬
mond Hussars. The ranks of these companies had been
swelled by young men eager to serve their country, until
they averaged 100 men each. They were splendidly
equipped and thoroughly drilled. In addition to these
there were about 200 mounted men from Burke county
and a company of infantry from Edgefield district, South
Carolina. Brigadier-General Harris was in chief com¬
mand, aided by Brig. -Gen. Charles J. Williams, of Colum¬
bus ; and Lieut. -Col. Alfred Cumming was in immediate
command of the armed force, consisting of the Augusta
battalion, Companies A and B of the minute men, and the
militia. No hostile demonstration was to be made until
the 24th, and it was then happily obviated by the reason¬
able action of Captain Elzey. In the conference which
fixed the terms of the withdrawal, the governor was
accompanied by Generals Williams and Harris, Col.
W. H. T. Walker, and his aides, Colonels Jackson and Phil¬
lips, all of whom joined the governor in assurances of
their esteem of Captain Elzey, and a desire that the

14

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

unhappy difficulties which had arisen might be adjusted
without hostilities. Walker, a comrade of Elzey in the
Federal service, seized the latter’s hand and assured him
that he had done all that could be required of a brave man.
Elzey, overcome by the situation that presaged the break¬
ing up of the old army, and the deadly conflict of former
friends, could only reply by silently throwing his arm
around his comrade, while tears filled the eyes of those
who witnessed the scene. Walker began here an hon¬
orable career in the Confederate cause, became a major-
general, was distinguished for his reckless daring, and
finally gave his life in the great battle on the hills of
Atlanta. Elzey also entered the Confederate service as
soon as circumstances permitted, and was one of the
most distinguished representatives of Maryland in the
army of Northern Virginia. His cool and intrepid action
on the field of First Manassas won for him the rank of brig¬
adier-general and the title of “the Blucher of the day’’
from the lips of President Davis. Under Jackson he
achieved additional renown and was promoted major-
general, but wounds received before Richmond in 1862
deprived the cause of his further active service in the field.

After a salute of thirty-three guns the stars and stripes
fluttered down the garrison staff, and none of the officers
observed this with exultation, but rather with sorrow that
it must be. Colonel Jackson offered this toast, as they
gathered before parting: “The flag of stars and stripes —
may it never be disgraced, while it floats over a true
Southern patriot.’’ A few hours later General Harris,
with twelve men of the Washington artillery and a squad
of the Oglethorpe Infantry, took possession of the arsenal
and raised the lone-star flag of Georgia. Salutes were
fired, one gun for the sovereignty of Georgia, five for the
States already seceded, and fifteen for the prospective
sisterhood of the South. By this timely act of the State
authorities, 22,000 small-arms, 2 howitzers, 2 cannon, and
much ammunition came into their possession.

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

15

A day or two later, Col. A. R. Lawton, in command
at Savannah, under instructions from the governor
demanded possession of the Oglethorpe barracks, through
Lieut. W. S. Bassinger. Ordnance-Sergeant Burt, in
charge in the absence of Captain Whiting, “refused to
recognize Colonel Lawton’s authority, or to allow Lieu¬
tenant Bassinger to interfere with the barracks or public
property, ’ ’ but had no force to sustain his action, and on
the 26th, Bassinger, with the assistance of the city police,
fastened up the public store-room and took possession of
the barracks. Sergeant Burt consistently maintained his
position by refusing to have any official communication
with Lieutenant Bassinger. Upon Captain Whiting’s
return, January 28th, Colonel Lawton addressed him
the following letter :

Sir : I am instructed by the governor and commander-
in-chief of the State of Georgia to take possession of
Oglethorpe barracks, in the name of the State of Georgia,
and in your absence from this city possession has been
taken. The occupants will not be disturbed at present,
and you will please consider yourself at liberty to occupy,
with your employes, such apartments as are necessary
for your convenience while you are closing up your busi¬
ness here. The steamer Ida and appurtenances have
also been taken possession of under the same authority.
This, I believe, includes all the property held by you in
the State of Georgia, as military engineer of the United
States, but does not include any lighthouse property.
You have already been notified, informally, that Forts
Pulaski and Jackson had been occupied by the troops of
the State of Georgia under my command.

Another famous incident of this first month of 1861
was the seizure at New York, probably on the orders
of the governor of that State, of thirty-eight boxes of
muskets, purchased by the firm of D. C. Hodgkins &
Sons, Macon, for shipment by the steamer Monticello to
Savannah. After a sharp remonstrance, which was
unheeded, Governor Brown directed Colonel Lawton to
order out sufficient military force and seize and hold,

16

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

subject to his order, every ship then in the harbor of
Savannah, belonging to citizens of New York. “When
the property of which our citizens have been robbed is
returned to them,’’ wrote the governor, “then the ships
will be delivered to the citizens of New York who own
them. ’’ Under this order Colonel Lawton, February 8th,
put detachments of the Phoenix Riflemen, under com¬
mand of Capt. George Gordon, in charge of five merchant
vessels. Three days later the guns were ordered
released, but delay in forwarding led to the governor’s
directing a renewal of reprisals. Three more vessels
were taken in hand by Colonel Lawton, two of which
were advertised for sale, when information was received
that the guns were on the way, whereupon they were
released. This incident was brought to a close after the
State had united with the Confederate States, and the
fact that Governor Brown retained the matter in his own
hands is a striking illustration of the vigorous way in
which Georgia put into effect the principle of State
sovereignty.

The convention, prior to the adjournment on January
29th to meet in March at Savannah, authorized the equip¬
ment of two regiments, to be either all infantry, or artil¬
lery and infantry, as the governor should decide. The
organization of these regiments had not been completed
when active hostilities began, and the companies
formed were consolidated in one regiment, and
turned over to the Confederate States government with
the title of the First regiment Georgia regulars. Of this
regiment, Charles J. Williams was commissioned colonel,
March 5, 1861. The First regulars served for some time
in Virginia in Toombs’, then in Gen. George T. Ander¬
son’s brigade, and after Fredericksburg, were on duty
most of the time in the department of South Carolina,
Georgia and Florida. They fought in the brigade of
George P. Harrison at Olustee, later at Charleston;
under Col. Richard A. Wayne were in Maj.-Gen. L.

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

17

McLaws’ division of Hardee’s command at Savannah,
November 20, 1864, and participated in the campaign of
the Carolinas in 1865 in Harrison’s brigade, in the divi¬
sion commanded, first by McLaws, and at the time of
Johnston’s surrender, by Maj.-Gen. E. S. Walthall. The
first colonel of the regiment, C. J. Williams, died in the
early part of 1862.

CHAPTER II.

ORGANIZATION AND OTHER EVENTS IN THE STATE,
FROM SPRING UNTIL CLOSE OF 1861— EARLY
RECORD OF GEORGIANS OUTSIDE THE STATE, PRE¬
VIOUS TO MANASSAS— COAST OPERATIONS IN GEOR¬
GIA IN 1861 (INCLUDING PORT ROYAL).

HE Georgia convention resumed its session at

Savannah, March 7, 1861, and continued its delibe-

1 rations until March 28th, ratifying the Confederate
constitution on March 16th, adopting a new State consti¬
tution, authorizing the issue of treasury notes and bonds
for revenue for public defense, tendering a tract ten
miles square for the Confederate seat of government,
and transferring the control of military operations as well
as forts and arms.

But before the troops were thus formally handed over
to the authorities of the new union, an Atlanta volunteer
company, “Lee’s Volunteers,’’ Capt. G. W. Lee, was
tendered to the government at Montgomery by its com¬
manding officer, and accepted March 5th. During his
return to Atlanta, a number of enthusiastic ladies on the
railroad train procured material and made a Confederate
flag after a model of the first flag of the Confederate
States raised at Montgomery, March 4th, under which the
company paraded at Atlanta immediately afterward.

The earliest organizations of commands had abundantly
demonstrated the enthusiastic desire of the people to en¬
list for the defense of the State. More companies were
offered than could be used, and these were advised to
continue their drills without arms. Though some arms
ordered from the North had been delivered, the supply
was very insufficient, and it was found necessary to put

18

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

19

in use the old flint-locks, altering them to percussion-
locks. Some companies were ordered to arm themselves
with double-barreled shotguns, private arms were freely
contributed, and in various ways the companies were
armed in some fashion for drill and even for their first
battles. A contract for cannon for coast defense with a
Pennsylvania iron company had been canceled by the
latter, and it was found necessary to order guns for bat¬
teries from the Tredegar works at Richmond. To en¬
courage the home production of war armament, the
convention offered a bonus of $ 10,000 to such a factory as
would be capable of furnishing three cannon each week
and a columbiad at an early date.

The Georgia convention turned over matters of arms
and soldiers to the government of the Confederate States,
but Governor Brown did not cease organizing State
troops. He contemplated the formation of two divi¬
sions, and intended to appoint Col. Henry R. Jackson
major-general of the first division, and Col. William H.
T. Walker as major-general of the second. It was found
practicable to organize but one division, of which Walker
was appointed major-general, Jackson generously giving
up his own promotion and urging Walker for the com¬
mand.

The first call to Georgia made by the government of
the Confederate States was for troops for Pensacola, and
met with a prompt reply. It is stated that under the
governor’s call for troops for this service 250 companies
were tendered, and the following were ordered into camp
at Macon (the list being arranged in the order in which
they formed the First regiment Georgia volunteers and
the First independent battalion): Newnan Guards (A),
Capt. George M. Hanvey; Southern Guards (B), Colum¬
bus, Capt. Frank S. Wilkins; Southern Rights Guards

(C) , Perry, Capt. John A. Houser; Oglethorpe Infantry

(D) , Augusta, Capt. Houghton B. Adam (who succeeded
J. O. Clark on the latter’s election as lieutenant-colonel) ;

20

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

Washington Rifles (E), Sandersville, Capt. S. A. H.
Jones; Gate City Guards (F), Atlanta, Capt. W. L.
Ezzard, and later Capt. C. A. Stone; Bainbridge Inde¬
pendents (G), Capt. John W. Evans; Dahlonega Volun¬
teers (H), Capt. Alfred Harris, who resigned and was
succeeded by Thomas B. Cabaniss, elected from the
ranks of the company from Forsyth; Walker Light
Infantry (I), Augusta, Capt. Samuel H. Crump; Quit-
man Guards (K), Forsyth, Capt. J. S. Pinkard (these ten
forming the First Georgia) ; Independence Volunteers

(A) , Macon, Capt. J. E. Aderhold; Ringgold Volunteers

(B) , Capt. H. J. Sprayberry ; Brown Infantry (C), Macon,
Capt. G. A. Smith, and Etowah Guards (D), Capt. Peter
H. Larey (these four forming the First independent bat¬
talion).

When the first ten companies of this list organized as
the First regiment of Georgia volunteers, April 3, 1861,
at Camp Oglethorpe, Macon, they elected the following
officers: James N. Ramsey, colonel; James O. Clark,
lieutenant-colonel; George H. Thompson, major. Capt.
Andrew Dunn was appointed quartermaster; Capt.
George W. Cunningham, commissary, and Lieut. James
W. Anderson, adjutant. The last named became major
in the fall of 1861 on the resignation of Clark as lieuten¬
ant-colonel and the promotion of Thompson to his posi¬
tion. The enlistment of the troops composing the regi¬
ment was dated from March 18, 1861, the day on which
the members of these companies had enrolled their
names in response to the call of the governor. The other
four companies mentioned above were at the same time
organized into the First independent battalion, with Cap¬
tain Larey as major, their enlistment also dating from
March 18th. Two days after the organization, Governor
Brown reviewed the troops before a vast assemblage, and
delivered an eloquent speech which aroused the enthusi¬
asm of all.

In a few days the First Georgia volunteers boarded

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

21

the cars for Montgomery, then the capital of the new
Confederacy. From Montgomery they went to Garland,
where they received news of the attack upon Fort Sum¬
ter. The railroad to Pensacola was not yet finished,
there being a gap of sixteen miles between Garland and
Evergreen. This distance the regiment marched, and
from Evergreen went by rail to Pensacola, where they
were sent down the bay past the navy yard and stationed
near Fort Barrancas. The regiment was transferred
early in June to Virginia, and while in camp at Rich¬
mond was reviewed by President Davis and Governor
Letcher, each of whom delivered speeches which were
enthusiastically received. The battle of Big Bethel oc¬
curred during their short stay at Richmond and was
hailed as a great victory. The First Georgia volunteers
served in West Virginia under Garnett, and after the
death of that officer, under Henry R. Jackson, until
December, when they were sent to Stonewall Jackson at
Winchester, serving under that great leader until early in
March, when they were ordered to Lynchburg and soon
after to Georgia, where they were mustered out March
1 8, 1862. The First Georgia was in the following
engagements: Belington and Laurel Hill, Carrick’s

Ford, Cheat Mountain, Greenbrier River, Bath and Han¬
cock. Four companies re-enlisted in a body at Augusta,
Ga. , forming an artillery battalion under Maj. H. D.
Capers. These were the Oglethorpe Artillery, Augusta,
Capt. J. V. H. Allen; Walker Light Artillery, Augusta,
Capt. Samuel Crump; Washington Artillery, Sanders-
ville, Capt. J. W. Rudisill, and Newnan Artillery, Capt.
George M. Hanvey. Three of these companies served
under Gen. Kirby Smith in 1862, in east Tennessee, and
the company from Newnan participated as artillery in
the Kentucky campaign. Toward the latter part of 1862,
the whole battalion was sent to Savannah. The Ogle-
thorpes were then detached, and with the Thirteenth
Georgia (Phoenix) battalion and six new companies

22

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

formed the Sixty-third Georgia regiment of infantry. The
Twelfth battalion and the Sixty-third regiment were on
duty at Savannah as infantry and heavy artillery — de¬
tachments from these commands serving also at Battery
Wagner and Fort Sumter. In the summer of 1864 the
Twelfth Georgia battalion, with two companies added,
was sent to Virginia as infantry, and was with Evans’
Georgia brigade, army of Northern Virginia, until the
surrender at Appomattox ; while the Sixty- third Georgia
was sent to Dalton, serving from that time until Johnston’s
capitulation in North Carolina, in the army of Tennessee.
Additional particulars of the Twelfth Georgia battalion
and the Sixty-third Georgia regiment will be found in
the sketch of those two commands. One other company
of the old First Georgia, the Southern Rights Guards,
from Perry, re-enlisted in a body as the Southern
Rights battery, serving as artillery in the army of Ten¬
nessee during the rest of the war. The other companies
of the First Georgia broke up and re-enlisted in various
commands.

The First Georgia independent battalion, organized at
the same time as the First Georgia volunteers, went to
Pensacola with Peter H. Larey as major commanding,
Z. T. Conner, adjutant, and S. M. Lanier, quartermaster,
under commissions from Governor Brown, but the author¬
ity was not recognized when the battalion was received
into Confederate service April 16th. Major Larey re¬
signed his commission early in June, and John B. Ville-
pigue, a South Carolinian who had had seven years’ serv¬
ice in the United States army, was elected major and
assigned by order of General Bragg. A month later he
was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and in September
Capt. William L. Lovell, Company G, became major.
The Vicksburg artillery and Jackson artillery, of Missis¬
sippi, were attached to the battalion in October, and the
combined command was entitled the Georgia and Missis¬
sippi regiment. A Florida company, the Simpson mount-

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

23

ed rangers, was also attached at this time. In November,
at the expiration of the six months’ enlistment, the name
of the command was changed to the Thirty-sixth regi¬
ment Georgia volunteers.

The first Georgia soldiers at Pensacola were the volun¬
teers organized at Atlanta by Capt. G. W. Lee, who took
his command to the Florida port, with a letter from Adju¬
tant-General Cooper to General Bragg, of date March
19th, in which it was stated that “this company, consist¬
ing of 100 men, chiefly artisans, is exclusive of the quota
which has been required from that State, and the secre¬
tary of war desires you will cause the officers and men to
be mustered into service and assigned to duty. ’ ’ The
strength of this command was reported on March 31st at
1 13 men. It was attached to the First battalion as Com¬
pany D.

Two “First" regiments have already been noted in
Georgia, and there remains a third to be mentioned,
which by priority of State service is entitled to the dis¬
tinction of being the first regiment summoned to the field
in Georgia. This was the First volunteer regiment of
Georgia, which was organized prior to the war, composed
of the militia companies of Savannah, and commanded
by Col. A. R. Lawton. On the appointment of the lat¬
ter as brigadier-general, H. W. Mercer was elected colo¬
nel, and on the latter’s promotion to brigadier-general,
Charles H. Olmstead was elected colonel, December 26,
1861. He retained command throughout the war. This
regiment was on duty at Savannah and Fort Pulaski
when Ramsey’s regiment was organized. But of these
two regiments, Ramsey’s was the first to leave the State
and the first to see actual war. The First volunteer reg¬
iment included the famous old companies — the Republi¬
can Blues, German Volunteers, Irish Jasper Greens,
Savannah Cadets and Oglethorpe Light Infantry. It
was reorganized in October, 1862, and served on the
coast until May, 1864. Its organization was as follows :

24 CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

Col. Charles H. Olmstead, Lieut. -Col. W. S. Rockwell
(succeeded by W. J. Ford, who was at first major),
Commissary E. W. Drummond, Asst. Quartermasters E.
Hopkins and F. M. Hull, Adjt. M. H. Hopkins. The
following were the captains: Company A, J. H. Flan¬
nery; Company B, David O’Connor, James Dooner;
Company C, J. W. Anderson, S. W. Anderson; Company
D, S. Y. Levy, P. C. Elkins; Company E, J. M. Doh¬
erty; Company F, J. S. Turner; Company G, A. C.
Davenport, G. Eberhart; Company H, F. W. Sims,
J. Lachlison; Company I, C. Werner, C. A. H. Umbach;
Company K, John Cooper. In April, 1862, Colonel
Olmstead, with Company H (the Oglethorpe Light
Infantry*) and four companies from other commands,
defended Fort Pulaski against the Federals under Gen.
David Hunter, but was forced to surrender. The prison¬
ers were soon exchanged and in service again. A detach¬
ment from this regiment also served at Battery Wagner in
1863. The First volunteer regiment under Colonel Olm¬
stead was sent to Dalton in May, 1864, and served thence¬
forth in the army of Tennessee until the surrender in
North Carolina, April 26, 1865.

The next command organized to serve outside the State
was a battalion, formed in response to the telegraphic
request of Governor Letcher, April 19, 1861, for two or
three companies to go immediately to Norfolk, Va. The
governor put himself in communication with the cities of
Columbus, Macon and Griffin, where he knew that mili¬
tary companies were ready for such emergencies, and
gave but half an hour for deliberation. The responses
came quickly and bravely, and in less than twenty-four
hours four companies were on their way to Virginia.
These were the Floyd Rifles, Capt. Thomas Hardeman ;
Macon Volunteers, Captain Smith; City Light Guards,

* The Oglethorpe Light Infantry of this regiment was originally a
part of the company of that name which went with Bartow to Vir¬
ginia and was assigned to the Eighth Georgia regiment.

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

25

Columbus, Capt. Peyton H. Colquitt, and the Griffin
Guards, Captain Doyall. Capt. Thomas Hardeman, a
prominent political leader and ex-member of Congress,
was made battalion commander.

The battalion was soon heard from to the praise of the
State in one of those minor encounters at the beginning
of the war, which had large proportions in the minds of a
people waiting in suspense for the result of the clash of
arms, and were of great importance in their influence
upon public sentiment. After reaching Norfolk Cap¬
tain Colquitt was put in command at Sewell’s point, a
peninsula running up from the south toward Hampton
Roads, and equidistant from Fortress Monroe and New¬
port News, with his company and detachments of Vir¬
ginia organizations, after the incomplete fortification had
been attacked by the United States steamer Monticello,
and there he sustained a second attack on May 19th.
The steamer, accompanied by a steam tug, fired with
great accuracy, one shell bursting within an embrasure,
and several others directly over the Confederate battery,
while solid shot repeatedly hurled masses of earth among
the gunners. But Colquitt and his men stood firm and
returned the fire with effect, causing the Federal vessels
to withdraw. He reported, “The troops acted with great
bravery, and I had to restrain them in their enthusi¬
asm, ’ ’ and he was himself warmly commended by General
Gwynn, the department commander. In consequence
of the want of a Confederate flag, in this first encounter
in the vicinity of Norfolk, the Georgia flag of Colquitt’s
company was planted on the ramparts during the engage¬
ment, and while the fire was hottest, two members of the
Light Guards fearlessly passed to the outside of the
works and deliberately removed the sand which yet ob¬
structed one of the portholes of the unfinished battery.

Four other infantry regiments were formed under the
call of the Confederacy for 5,000 men from Georgia.
The organization of the Second regiment of Georgia vol-

6s 4

26

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

tmteers, completed June x, 1861, was as follows: Col.
Paul J. Semmes; Lieut. -Col. Skidmore Harris; Maj.
Edgar M. Butt; Adjt. W. Redd; Capts. D. G. Candler
(A), William T. Harris (B), William S. Sheppard

(C), William R. Holmes (D), W. A. Campbell (E),

Thomas E. Dickerson (F), Roswell Ellis (G), Jesse A.
Glenn (H), Charles R. Wiggins (I), Jared I. Ball
(K). The quartermaster was James Houston, and

the commissary was S. G. W. Dillingham. This regi¬
ment served throughout the war in the army of

Northern Virginia. During this time various changes
in organization occurred. Colonel Semmes, being ap¬
pointed brigadier-general, was succeeded by Edgar M.
Butt. Lieut. -Col. Skidmore Harris was succeeded by
W. T. Harris (killed), William R. Holmes (killed)
and W. S. Sheppard. Maj. Edgar M. Butt was suc¬
ceeded by W. S. Sheppard, William T. Harris, W. W.
Charlton and A. M. Lewis. The changes among the
captains were : Candler was followed by W. W. Charl¬
ton and John W. Owens; Harris by A. M. Lewis; Shep¬
pard by Robert Howard; Holmes by W. A. Thompson
(killed); Campbell by T. J. Morris; Dickerson by A. B.
Shuford (killed); Ellis by T. Chaffin; Glenn by B. L.
Hancock (killed); Wiggins by John T. Maddox; Ball
by J. B. Newell. General Semmes was killed at Gettys¬
burg.

The organization of the Third regiment of Georgia
volunteers, completed May 8, 1861, was as follows: Col.
Ambrose R. Wright; Lieut. -Col. James S. Reid; Maj.
Augustus H. Lee; Adjt. W. W. Turner; Capts. William C.
Musgrove (A), R. B. Nisbet (B), R. L. McWhorter (C),
C. H. Andrews (D), J. R. Griffin (E), William O. Beall (F),
Edward J. Walker (G), John F. Jones (H), N. A. Cars¬
well (I), H. C. Billups (K). The quartermaster was
A. Phillips and the commissary, H. S. Hughes. This regi¬
ment served for awhile on the North Carolina coast and
then in the army of Northern Virginia. There were, of

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

27

course, during the long conflict, many changes in organiza¬
tion. Colonel Wright became a brigadier-general and
finally a major-general in the army of the Confederate
States. He was succeeded by Edward J. Walker as
colonel. Lieutenant-Colonel Reid was succeeded by
R. B. Nisbet, and next by Claiborne Snead. Maj. Augus¬
tus H. Lee was followed by John R. Sturgis (killed) and
A. B. Montgomery. Maj. John F. Jones was followed
by G. E. Hayes. The changes among the captains
were: Musgrove was followed by S. A. Corker; Nisbet
by John S. Reid; McWhorter by J. T. Geer; Griffin
was followed by J. A. Hamilton (killed), G. W. Allen
and J. G. Royal; Beall by J. M. Waters and J. A. Ma¬
son; Walker by Claiborne Snead; Jones by L. F. Luckie
and J. H. Evans; Carswell by J. J. McBee (killed),
W. H. Bearden and H. J. Hughes; Billups by D. B.
Langston.

The organization of the Fourth Georgia volunteers
was completed April 26, 1861, as follows: Col. George
Doles; Lieut. -Col. John J. Matthews; Maj. Charles L.
Whitehead; Adjt. Philip Cook; Commissary J. B. Mor¬
gan; Quartermaster H. R. Daniels; Capts. B. Cusley
(A), Robert S. Smith (B), E. A. Nash (C), George F.
Todd (D), J. G. Rust (E), B. R. Mayer (F), George F.
Bartlett (G), Samuel M. Prothro (H), William L. Johnson
(I), D. R. E. Winn (K). This regiment served through
the war in the army of Northern Virginia, and enjoyed
the distinction of giving two brigadier-generals to the
Confederate army. Its first colonel, George Doles,
became brigadier-general and was killed at Second Cold
Harbor. He was succeeded as colonel by Philip Cook,
who also became a brigadier-general. There were many
other changes in the regiment. Colonel Cook was suc¬
ceeded by William H. Willis; Lieut. -Col. JohnJ. Matthews
by W. T. Gordon, Philip Cook (afterward colonel and
then brigadier-general) and David R. E. Winn. Maj.
Charles L. Whitehead was followed by William F. Jordan,

28

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

David R. E. Winn, R. S. Smith, Edwin A. Nash, F. H.
DeGraffenreid and Wm. H. Willis. When Philip Cook
was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, A. J. Roberts be¬
came adjutant. Commissary J. B. Morgan was followed
by James F. Murphey, and Quartermaster H. R. Dan¬
iels by Wm. H. Tinsley. There were also many changes
among the captains. Cusley was followed by J. P.
Strickland and James H. Weeks; Smith by M. H. Hill
and A. C. Gibson; Nash by George F. Todd (died) and
A. C. Frost; Rust by Wm. E. Smith and F. H. DeGraffen¬
reid; Mayer by George S. Carey and James F. Sullivan;
Bartlett by Wm. F. Jordan, John T. Lang (died) and
C. R. Ezell; ProthrobyJ. W. Carraker and Wallace Butts;
Johnson by William H. Willis; Winn by R. M. Bisel
(killed).

The organization of the Fifth regiment of Geor¬
gia volunteers was completed May n, 1861, as follows:
Col. John K. Jackson, Lieut. -Col. Thomas Beall, Maj.
Wm. L. Salisbury, Adjt. R. S. Cheatham, Commissary
H. B. T. Montgomery, Quartermaster James M. Cole;
Capts. Charles A. Platt (A), Samuel W. Mangham (B),
John H. Hull (C), Ed. H. Pottle (D), C. B. Wootten (E),
William H. Lang (F), Wm. J. Sears (G), Hugh M. King
(H), John T. Iverson (I), Wm. J. Horsley (K). This
regiment first went to Pensacola, afterward served
in the army of Tennessee from a short time after the
battle of Shiloh until after July, 1864, when it was sent
to the Georgia coast. It participated also under Joe
Johnston in the final campaign in the Carolinas. Its
first colonel, John K. Jackson, became brigadier- gen¬
eral before Shiloh. His successors in the colonelcy were
Samuel W. Mangham, Wm. F. Black, Wm. T. Beach
and Charles P. Daniel. The lieutenant-colonels that suc¬
ceeded Thomas Beall were Charles R. Day and John F.
Iverson. Maj. Wm. L. Salisbury was followed by
Charles P. Daniel, D. H. Ansley and W. B. Hundley.
Captain Platt was succeeded by D. H. Ansley; Hull by

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

29

H. P. Steeney; Pottle by Wm. B. Hundley, afterward
major; Lang by John F. Kidder; Sears by John J.
Hurt ; King by Stephen R. Weston.

The Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth regiments were
twelve months’ troops. At the expiration of their term
they re-enlisted for the war.

Thus in the first four months of 1861 there were five
twelve months’ infantry regiments formed, besides the
First volunteer regiment of Georgia and First regulars.
In addition to these there were the First and Second Geor¬
gia infantry battalions, the Washington artillery of Au¬
gusta, Hardaway battery of Columbus, the Chatham
battery of Savannah, and a large number of unassigned
companies. The governor was pressed even to annoy¬
ance with demands for arms, equipments, and orders
to march at once to Virginia, or anywhere, that gunpow¬
der might be burned and glory won. Captain Glenn, of
Savannah, expressed the general passion in a public let¬
ter, in which he begged permission to go with his com¬
mand to Virginia, where there was “prospect of a fight. ’’

In May, 1861, the Confederate Congress authorized en¬
listments for the full term of the war. Francis S. Bar¬
tow, captain of the Oglethorpe Light Infantry, of Savan¬
nah, was at Montgomery at the time as a member of the
Congress, and having obtained the consent of his men by
telegraph, at once offered his services and theirs for the
war. This being accepted by President Davis, the gal¬
lant commander hastened to Savannah to prepare for
departure to Virginia, giving no thought apparently to
the fact that the arms were the property of the State.
This was called to his attention by Governor Brown, and
a sharp epistolary encounter resulted between the
impetuous captain and the State executive, who had a
coast line and a coast city to defend; but all of the cor¬
respondence is now forgotten except one burning line
from Bartow’s pen: “I go to illustrate Georgia.’’ “It
was a noble utterance, made potent and pathetic forever

30

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

by the heroic death of its author two months later
on the field of the South’s first great victory.” Wounded
and dying in the battle, he made another long-remem¬
bered utterance: ‘‘They have killed me, but never
give up the fight. ’ ’ His company left Savannah May
2 1 st, and subsequently was assigned to the Eighth regi¬
ment, of which Bartow was elected colonel.

The earliest regiments enlisted for the war were the
Sixth volunteers, Col. Alfred H. Colquitt; Seventh,
Col. L. J. Gartrell; Eighth, Col. Francis S. Bartow;
Ninth, Col. E. R. Goulding; Tenth, Col. Lafayette Mc-
Laws; Eleventh, Col. George T. Anderson; Twelfth,
Col. Edward Johnson; Thirteenth, Col. Walter Ector.
The organization of these regiments was as follows:

Sixth regiment Georgia volunteers: Col. A. H. Col¬
quitt; Lieut. -Col. James M. Newton (killed) ; Maj. Philip
Tracy (killed); Adjt. B. Russell; Commissary T. J. Col¬
lins; Quartermaster R. N. Ely; Capts. W. M. Arnold
(A), John Hanna (B), C. D. Anderson (C), J. D. Watson
(D), W. C. Cleveland (E), E. H. Shackelford (F), John
T. Griffin (G), W. L. Plane (H), J. A. Barclay (I), J. T.
Lofton (K). This regiment served in Virginia until
after Chancell orsville, then in North Carolina; also in
Florida at Olustee, again in Virginia in 1864, and in
North Carolina with Joe Johnston in 1865. Colonel Col¬
quitt was promoted to brigadier-general and succeeded
by J. T. Lofton, then by S. W. PI arris. Lieut. -Col.
James M. Newton being killed, his successors were W. C.
Cleveland, J. T. Lofton, S. W. Harris and W. M. Arnold,
who was killed in action. Maj. Philip Tracy was killed.
His successors were C. D. Anderson, W. C. Cleveland,
W. M. Arnold and J. M. Culpeper. J. H. Rogers suc¬
ceeded B. Russell as adjutant. The changes among the
captains were : Hanna was followed by W. M. Tidwell ;
Anderson by J. M. Culpeper; Watson by S. M. Ralston;
Plane by B. J. Russell; Lofton bv S. W. Harris. Sev¬
eral of these captains were promoted.

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

31

Seventh regiment Georgia volunteers: Col. Lucius J.
Gartrell; Lieut. -Col. John Dunwoody; Maj. L. B. Ander¬
son; Adjt. E. W. Hoyle ; Commissary W. J. Wilson; Quar¬
termaster R. R. Holliday; Capts. G. H. Carmichael (A),

G. J. Foreacre (B), C. S. Jenkins (C), J. B. Lindley (D),
John W. Fowler (E), Eli Henson (F), C. N. Featherston
(G), Thomas E. King (H), Wm. W. White (I), W. J.
Ballard (K). This regiment served throughout the war
in the army of Northern Virginia, being at First Manas¬
sas and surrendering at Appomattox. The following
changes in organization occurred : Colonel Gartrell was
promoted to brigadier-general and succeeded by W. T.
Wilson, W. W. White and George H. Carmichael.
Lieut. -Col. John Dunwoody was followed by W. W.
White, George H. Carmichael and M. T. Allman. Maj.
L. B. Anderson was followed by E. W. Hoyle, George

H. Carmichael, H. H. Wiet, John Kiser, T. J. Har-
tridge and M. T. Allman. Adjt. E. W. Hoyle was suc¬
ceeded by J. E. Shaw; Quartermaster R. R. Holliday by
R. E. Henry. The following changes among the cap¬
tains are recorded: Foreacre was followed by H. H. Wiet;
Jenkins by D. T. Peek (killed) and I. M. Holcombe;
Lindley by J. Kiser and T. J. Hartridge; Fowler by
W. W. Bradberry; Benson by J. C. Wadkins; Feathers¬
ton by M. T. Allman; King by R. B. Hicks; Ballard by
John McLendon.

Eighth regiment Georgia volunteers: Col. Francis S.
Bartow; Lieut. -Col. John R. Towers; Maj. E. J. Magru-
der; Adjt. J. L. Branch; Commissary George C. Norton;
Quartermaster E. A. Wilcox. The captains were E. J.
Magruder (A), A. F. Butler (B), H. J. Menard (C),
H. E. Malom (D), D. Scott (E), J. T. Lewis (F), T. D.
L. Ryan (G), George N. Yarborough (H), George O.
Dawson (I), Jacob Phinizy (K). The surgeon was Dr.
H. V. M. Miller. This regiment served in the army of
Northern Virginia, being at First Manassas and surren¬
dering at Appomattox, also with Longstreet at Chicka-

82

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

mauga and in east Tennessee. Its first colonel, Bartow,
commanded a brigade and was killed at First Manassas.
He was succeeded by Wm. M. Gardner (who also became
a brigadier-general) , Lucius M. Lamar and John R.
Towers. The last-named gentleman was succeeded as
lieutenant-colonel by E. J. Magruder, on whose promo¬
tion George O. Dawson became major. The adjutant,
J. L. Branch, being killed, was succeeded by A. R. Har¬
per and W. F. Shellman. Among the captains, Magru¬
der was succeeded by S. H. Hall; Butler by J. H. Couper
and J. West, and Phinizy by T. J. Bowling.

Ninth regiment Georgia volunteers: Col. E. R.
Goulding; Lieut. -Col. R. A. Turnipseed; Maj. John C.
Mounger; Commissary J. C. Waddy; Quartermaster
J. W. Sutton; Adjt. A. O. Bacon. The captains were:
John Lane (A), Wm. M. Jones (B), George Hillyer (C),
J. G. Webb (D), P. A. S. Morris (E), Benjamin Beck
(F), E. F. Hoge (G), John C. Mounger (H), L. C. Belt
(I), J. M. D. King (K). This regiment, like the Seventh
and Eighth, served through the war in the army of
Northern Virginia, except when it was with Longstreet
at Chickamauga and in east Tennessee. There were
many changes in the organization. Colonel Goulding
was succeeded by R. A. Turnipseed, John C. Mounger
and E. F. Hoge. The successors of Lieut. -Col. Turnip¬
seed were John C. Mounger, E. F. Hoge and J. G.
Webb, while Major Mounger was followed by W. M.
Jones, J. J. Webb and J. W. Arnold. Adj. A. O. Bacon was
succeeded by John Jones. The commissary, J. C. Wad¬
dy, was followed by R. J. Cowart, and the quartermaster,
J. W. Sutton, by E. P. Watkins. Captain Lane was fol¬
lowed by Gideon J. Norman; Jones by Wm. E. Cleghorn;
Hillyer by J. W. Arnold; Webb by T. A. Hurt; Morris
by R. P. Wellborn; Beck by S. A. Jemison and Hamp
Doles; Hoge by G. G. Gordon and E. A. Sharpe; Moun-

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

33

ger by R. A. Hardee, Corker (killed) and T. J. Hardee;
Belt by R. V. Fulcher and Thomas Rought; King (died)
by M. E. Sparks.

Tenth regiment Georgia volunteers: Col. Lafayette
McLaws; Lieut. -Col. J. B. Weems; Maj. R. R. Hawes;
Adjt. R. G. Strickland; Commissary G. H. Cheever;
Quartermaster S. T. Neal. The captains were O. S.
Kimbrough (A), C. H. Phinizy (B), Willis C. Holt (C),
Henry L. Leon (D), Andrew J. McBride (E), Wm. F.
Johnston (F), C. C. Kibbee (G), P. H. Loud (H), Y. L.
Wotton (I), J. P. W. Read (K). This regiment served
throughout the war in the army of Northern Virginia.
Its first colonel, Lafayette McLaws, became a major-gen¬
eral and was succeeded by Alfred Cumming, for a short
time lieutenant-colonel and later promoted to brigadier-
general, whereupon Lieut. -Col. John B. Weems became
colonel, followed afterward by W. C. Holt and A. J. Mc¬
Bride. On Weems’ promotion Willis C. Holt became
lieutenant-colonel, and upon his promotion C. C. Kibbee
became lieutenant-colonel. Major Hawes was followed
by Willis C. Holt and P. H. Loud. Adjutant Strickland
was followed by John H. Dobbs. Captain Phinizy was
succeeded by A. P. Boggs and W. S. Davis; Holt by
J. W. Neil; Johnston by W. G. Green (died) and T. H.
Wood; Loud by E. M. Foster; Read by T. C. Cone.

The field and staff officers of the Eleventh regiment of
Georgia volunteers were George T. Anderson, colonel;
Theodore L. Guerry, lieutenant-colonel; William Luff-
man, major; J. F. Green, adjutant ; Hockenhull, commis¬
sary, and J. Guthrie, quartermaster. The captains were
Wm. H. Mitchell (A), killed; J. W. Stokes (B), William
Luffman (C), W. R. Welsh (D), S. C. Dobbs (E), J. D.
Hyde (F), John Y. Wood (G), M. T. Nunnally (H), killed;
Samuel Thatcher (I), died; G. W. Wimberly (K). This
regiment served throughout the war in the army of
Northern Virginia except when it was with Longstreet
at Chickamauga and in east Tennessee. Its colonel,

5

34

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

George T. Anderson, was promoted to brigadier-general
and was succeeded by F. H. Little. Lieutenant-Colonel
Guerry was followed by Maj. Wm. Luff man, who was
succeeded by W. R. Welsh, H. D. McDaniel and C. T.
Goode. Captain Luffman, promoted to major, was fol¬
lowed by W. R. Ramsey; Hyde was followed by J. W.
Johnston; Nunnally (killed) by E. C. Arnold; Thatcher
(died) by F. M. Bledsoe and E. B. Brannan.

When the Twelfth regiment of Georgia volunteers was
organized, Edward Johnson, an officer of the old army,
was appointed colonel ; Z. T. Conner, lieutenant-colonel ;
Willis A. Hawkins, major; Ed. Willis, adjutant. The
captains of the regiment were Isaac Hardeman (B), John
McMullen (C), Wm. L. Furlow (D), T. B. Scott (E),
Wm. F. Brown (F), R. T. Davis (G), J. G. Rodgers (H),
J. W. Patterson (I), Mark H. Blanford (K). This regi¬
ment served in 1861 in West Virginia and afterward in
the army of Northern Virginia throughout the war. Its
colonel, Edward Johnson, a Virginian, became a briga¬
dier and afterward a major-general in the Confederate
army. He was followed in succession by Z. T. Conner
and Edward Willis, whose commission as brigadier-gen¬
eral came the day after his death, in the spring of 1864.
Lieutenant-Colonel Conner was succeeded by Abner
Snead, T. B. Scott (killed), Willis A. Hawkins, Mark H.
Blanford and J. Hardeman. When Major Hawkins was
promoted to lieutenant-colonel, he was succeeded by
Edward Willis Hardeman and J. T. Carson. The first
captain of Company A was succeeded by Lieut. Samuel
Dawson, and he on his death in action by S. G. Prior.
Captain Hardeman was followed by Joseph N. Beall;
McMullen (killed) by T. W. Harris; Furlow (killed)
by D. D. Peden; Scott by James A. Whitesider; William
F. Brown (killed), by James Everett; Davis (died)
by A. S. Reid; Rodgers by Oliver T. Evans; Patterson
(killed) by James M. Briggs, and Blanford (promoted)
by R. McMichael. James Deshler, adjutant of the bri-

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

35

gade, became brigadier-general, and fell gallantly leading
a brigade in Cleburne’s division at Chickamauga.

When the Thirteenth regiment of Georgia volunteers
was organized, Walker Ector was made colonel ; Marcellus
Douglass, lieutenant-colonel, and James M. Smith,
major. The adjutant was O. K. Walker; commissary,
J. H. Mangham, and quartermaster, M. Gormerly. The
captains were J. H. Mitchell (A), James McCallay (B),
J. L. Moore (C), W. W. Hartsfield (D), W. A. Clark fol¬
lowed by B. P. Brooks (E), S. W. Jones (F), J. T. Craw¬
ford (G), Richard Maltby (H), E. W. Robinson (I),
J. A. Long (K). This regiment served in 1861 in West
Virginia; in December of that year was sent to Gen.
R. E. Lee, then commanding at Charleston ; in the spring
of 1862 served on the Georgia coast with distinction on
Whitemarsh island, and was sent back to Virginia with
Lawton’s brigade in time to take part in the Seven Days’
battles. From that time it served in the army of North¬
ern Virginia until the close of the war. Upon the death
of Colonel Ector early in 1862, Marcellus Douglass was
appointed colonel. He was killed at Sharpsburg while
gallantly leading his regiment and was succeeded by
James M. Smith. John H. Baker, at that time major of
the regiment, was promoted to lieutenant-colonel and
afterward was commissioned colonel.

Other organizations of this early period were the Geor¬
gia legion, commanded by Col. Thomas R. R. Cobb, with
P. M. B. Young as lieutenant-colonel and Ben C. Yancey,
major. It was composed of seven companies of infan¬
try, four of cavalry and one of artillery. A similar legion
was organized and commanded by Col. William Phillips.
The First Georgia battalion was organized under Lieut. -
Col. J. B. Villepigue, the Second battalion under Maj.
Thomas Hardeman, and the Third under Lieut. -Col.
M. A. Stovall.

About the time of the battle of Manassas, Georgia had
organized 17,000 men, armed and equipped them herself at

36 CONFEDERA TE MI LIT A R Y HIS TOR Y.

an expense of $300,000, and sent them into service mostly
outside of the State. So generously was this outpouring
of men and munitions continued that in September, when
Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston, commanding the depart¬
ment of the West, called upon the governors for arms,
Governor Brown was compelled to reply with much
regret that it was utterly impossible to furnish any.
“There are no arms belonging to the State at my dispo¬
sal,” said the governor; “all have been exhausted in arm¬
ing the volunteers of the State now in the Confederate
service in Virginia, at Pensacola and on our own coast,
in all, some twenty- three regiments. Georgia has now to
look to the shotguns and rifles in the hands of her
people for coast defense, and to guns which her gunsmiths
are slowly manufacturing. ’ ’

The report of the comptroller-general, made at the
close of the fiscal year, June, 1861, showed that Georgia
had put into the field or camp the following troops, ex¬
clusive of artillery :

First regulars, Col. C. J. Williams ; First of Georgia,
Col. H. W. Mercer; First volunteers, Col. J. N. Ram¬
sey; Second volunteers, Col. Paul J. Semmes; Third
volunteers, Col. H. R. Wright; Fourth volunteers, Col.
George Doles; Fifth volunteers, Col. John K. Jack-
son; Sixth volunteers, Col. A. H. Colquitt; Seventh
volunteers, Col. L. J. Gartrell; Eighth volunteers,
Col. Francis S. Bartow; Ninth volunteers, Col. E. R.
Goulding; Tenth volunteers. Col. Lafayette McLaws;
Eleventh volunteers, Col. George T. Anderson; Twelfth
volunteers, Col. Edward Johnson; Thirteenth volun¬
teers, Col. Walker Ector; Fourteenth volunteers, Col.
A. V. Brumby; Fifteenth volunteers, Col. T. W. Thomas;
Sixteenth volunteers, Col. Howell Cobb; Seventeenth
volunteers, Col. H. L. Benning; Eighteenth volunteers,
Col. William T. Wofford; Nineteenth volunteers. Col.
W. W. Boyd; Twentieth volunteers, Col. W. D. Smith;
Twenty- first volunteers, Col. John T. Mercer; Twenty-

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

37

second volunteers, Col. Robert H. Jones; Twenty-third
volunteers, Col. Thomas Hutchison; Twenty-fourth
volunteers, Col. Robert McMillan; Twenty-fifth volun¬
teers, Col. C. C. Wilson ; Georgia legion, infantry, cav¬
alry and artillery, Col. T. R. R. Cobb; Phillips legion,
infantry, cavalry and artillery, Col. William Phillips;
First battalion infantry, Lieut. -Col. J. B. Villepigue;
Second battalion infantry, Maj. Thomas Hardeman;
Third battalion infantry, Lieut. -Col. M. A. Stovall ; Inde¬
pendent Georgia dragoons, Capt. I. W. Avery. The fol¬
lowing were also in camp in Georgia: The regiments of
Col. T. J. Warthen, Twenty-eighth; of Levi B. Smith,
Twenty-seventh; of David J. Bailey, Thirtieth; of C. W.
Styles, Twenty-sixth ; of A. Littlefield, Thirty-third, and
twenty-seven companies under Cols. W. H. Stiles, E. L.
Thomas, Augustus R. Wright and A. R. Lamar. We
give here a brief sketch of each of the above-named
commands not previously described.

At the organization of the Fourteenth regiment of
Georgia volunteers, the officers were : Col. A. V. Brum¬
by; Lieut. -Col. Robert W. Folsom; Maj. W. A. Harris;
Adjt. A. Taliaferro; Quartermaster E. A. Heggis, and
Commissary T. C. Moore. The captains were J. H. Eth¬
eridge (A), C. C. Kelly (B), L. A. Lane (C), James M.
Fielder (D), H. P. Lester (E), R. P. Harman (F), T. T.
Mounger (G), Thomas M. Yopp (H), R.W. McMichael (I),
W. L. Goldsmith (K). The Fourteenth was sent to West
Virginia under Floyd, then commanding in the Kanawha
valley; in November, 1861, was ordered to report to
Joseph E. Johnston at Manassas, and from that time it
followed the fortunes of the army of Northern Virginia.
Col. Brumby was succeeded by Col. Felix Price, and he
by Robert W. Folsom, whose successor was R. P. Lester.
The lieutenant-colonels after Folsom were W. A. Harris,.
James M. Fielder, R. P. Lester and W. L. Goldsmith.
Maj. W. A. Harris was followed by James M. Fielder,
R. P. Lester, W. L. Goldsmith and C. C. Kelly; Adjt.

38 CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

A. Taliaferro by T. C. Moore. Captain Etheridge,
(killed) was succeeded by J. W. Mayes; Kelly by B. W.
Ryle; Lester by S. B. David and R. N. Rogers; Harmon
(killed) by W. O. Clegg and J. H. Hicks; Yopp (retired)
by H. B. Smith; McMichael was killed in action; W. L.
Goldsmith (promoted) was succeeded by R. A. Holt,
and he by J. M. Evans.

The officers of the Fifteenth regiment Georgia volun¬
teers were at first : Col. T. W. Thomas ; Lieut. -Col. W.
M. McIntosh; Maj. T. J. Smith; Commissary J. H. Willis;
Quartermaster H. V. Forbes; Adjt. B. H. Lofton;
Capts. A. B. Cade (A), Wm. T. Millican (B), L. H. O.
Martin (C), S. J. Farmer (D), T. J. Smith (E), John E.
Burch (F), S. Z. Ernsberger (G), Wm. R. Poole (H),
Wm. H. Mattox (I), J. L. Culver (K). The Fifteenth
served throughout the war in the army of Northern Vir¬
ginia except during the time that it was engaged in the
Chickamauga and east Tennessee campaigns under Long-
street in the fall of 1863 and early spring of 1864. Dur¬
ing this long and faithful service many changes in organ¬
ization occurred. The colonels following Thomas were
Wm. T. Millican and D. M. DuBose. Lieutenant-Colo¬
nel McIntosh (killed) was succeeded by Maj. T. J. Smith,
whose successor was P. J. Shannon. Adjt. B. H. Lofton
was followed by L. Pierce. Captain Cade was succeeded
by J. S. Callaway; Martin by W. J. Willis; Farmer by
D. S. Flint; Poole by T. H. Jackson; Mattox by J. A.
Gaines, and Culver by Mark Latimer.

The Sixteenth regiment Georgia volunteers was
organized as follows: Col. Howell Cobb; Lieut. -Col.
Goode Bryan; Maj. Henry P. Thomas; Adjt. T. W. Cum-
ming; Commissary L. McGuire; Quartermaster R.
Thomas; Capts. James S. Gholston (A), A. M. Reynolds
(B), J. H. Skelton (C), J. N. Montgomery (D), B. E.
Stiles (E), J. H. D. McRae (F), A. C. Thompson (G), N.
Reeder (H), N. L. Hutchins (I), R. J. Boyd (K). The
Sixteenth was another of the splendid Georgia regiments

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

39

of the army of Northern Virginia, on whose many battle¬
fields it gained distinction, being also one of the regi¬
ments that followed Longstreet through the Chicka-
mauga and east Tennessee campaigns. Its colonel,
Howell Cobb, became a major-general in the army of the
Confederate States, and his successor, Goode Bryan,
a brigadier-general, being succeeded as colonel by
James S. Gholston. When Bryan was promoted to colo¬
nel, Henry P. Thomas became lieutenant-colonel, and be¬
ing killed in action was succeeded by B. E. Stiles. Ma¬
jor Thomas was succeeded by James S. Gholston, and
he by J. H. Skelton. Among the captains, Gholston was
succeeded by H. C. Nash (killed), and he by J. M. Sims.
Captain Reeder was succeeded by H. M. Richardson.

When the Seventeenth regiment Georgia volunteers was
organized, H. L. Benning was made colonel ; W. C. Hodges
lieutenant-colonel; Thomas Walker, major; T. A. Klink,
adjutant; G. H. King, commissary, and T. C. Shorter,
quartermaster. The captains were D. B. Harrell (A),
H. L. French (B), F. S. Chapman (C), C. G. Campbell
(D), John A. McGregor (E), D. B. Thompson (F), Au¬
gustus C. Jones (G), R. E. Kennon (H), C. W. Matthews
(I), John H. Pickett (K). The Seventeenth was one of
the many regiments that illustrated Georgia so gloriously
on the battlefields of Virginia, Maryland and Pennsyl¬
vania, also at Chickamauga and in east Tennessee. Its
colonel, H. L. Benning, became brigadier-general and
was succeeded by Lieut. -Col. Wesley C. Hodges, upon
whose promotion Charles W. Matthews became lieuten¬
ant-colonel, and upon his death in action W. A. Barden
succeeded to the vacancy. Maj. Thomas Walker was fol¬
lowed by J. H. Pickett, W. A. Barden and J. B. Morris.
Captain Harrell was succeeded by D. H. Wilmot; Chap¬
man by J. B. Moore; Campbell by V. A. S. Parks and
J. H. Martin; McGregor by J. N. Tyers; Thompson by
H. McCauley and J. H. Weeks; Jones (killed) by A. B.
Nichols; Kennon by W. A. Barden; Pickett by A. M.

40

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

Jones (killed) and M. H. Marshall. This regiment had
also an ensign, B. F. Shivers.

The Eighteenth regiment Georgia volunteers was
organized with the following field officers: Wm. T.
Wofford, colonel; S. Z. Ruff, lieutenant- colonel; Jef¬
ferson Johnson, major. The captains were J. B.
O’Neill (A), J. A. Stewart (B), D. L. Jarratt (C),
S. D. Irvin (D), E. J. Starr (E), J. C. Roper (F),
J. C. Maddox (G), F. M. Ford (H), Joseph Arm¬
strong (I), John A. Crawford (K). The Eighteenth
is another regiment that had the honor of fighting upon
the famous battlefields of the army of Northern Virginia.
Its colonel, W. T. Wofford, became a brigadier-general
and was succeeded by S. Z. Ruff, who dying on the field
of honor was followed by Joseph Armstrong. On Ruff’s
promotion F. M. Ford became lieutenant-colonel. Jeffer¬
son Johnson was succeeded as major by J. A. Stewart, and
he by W. G. Callaghan. Captain Crawford was succeeded
by W. Brown and he by L. C. Weems. No more gallant
command followed the Southern cross through so many
glorious victories to final defeat. During the Seven Days’
battles it was in Hood’s famous brigade, and afterward
was one of the regiments that followed the leadership of
Brig. -Gen. W. T. Wofford.

The Nineteenth regiment Georgia volunteers was
organized with W. W. Boyd, colonel; Thomas C. Johnson,
lieutenant-colonel; A. J. Hutchins, major, and James P.
Perkins, adjutant. The captains were F. M. Johnston
(A), John Keely (B), J. J. Beall (C), James D. Hunter
(D), Charles W. Mabry (E), Wm. E. Curtis (F), Tillman
W. Flynt (G), John B. Beall (H), John T. Chambers (I),
John W. Hooper (K). The greater part of the service of
this regiment was in the army of Northern Virginia.
At the time of the battle of Gettysburg it was in North
Carolina. It went with the other regiments of Colquitt’s
brigade to Florida and shared in the victory at Olustee
in February, 1864, and returned to Virginia in time for

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

41

the defense of Petersburg. In 1865 it participated in the
campaign of the Carolinas, surrendering with Johnston,
April 26, 1865. Colonel Boyd was succeeded by Andrew
J. Hutchins and J. H. Neal; Lieutenant-Colonel John¬
son by A. J. Hutchins, James H. Neal, T. W. Flynt and
R. B. Hogan; Major Hutchins by J. H.Neal, J. W. Hooper,
C. W. Mabry and William Hamilton; Adjutant Perkins
by S. G. Turner. Of the captains, Johnston was followed
by John Morrison; Neal by Denis S. Myers; Beall by
R. B. Hogan and A. J. Richardson; Mabry by D. H.
Sims; Curtis by A. H. Black and William Hamilton.
Flynt on promotion was succeeded by Captain Elliott,
who was killed in action; J. B. Beall had for his successor
J. W. Neally; Chambers was succeeded by T. W. Aber¬
crombie, and he by Captain Lester; and Hooper on his
promotion to major was succeeded by A. J. Rowe.

The organization of the Twentieth regiment Georgia
volunteers was as follows: William Duncan Smith, col¬
onel; J. B. Cumming, lieutenant-colonel; John A. Jones,
major; J. O. Waddell, adjutant; Capts. A. B. Ross (A),
John A. Strother (B), Roger L. Gamble (C), James D.
Waddell (D), R. D. Little (E), E. M. Seago (F), John R.
Ivey (G), J. A. Coffee (H), Van A. Leonard (I), William
Craig (K). This regiment served in the army of North¬
ern Virginia throughout most of its campaigns, also at
Chickamauga and in east Tennessee under Longstreet,
returning to Virginia in time for the spring campaign of
1864. Colonel Smith was promoted to brigadier-general
and ordered to Charleston, S. C. , where he died of fever in
October, 1862. He was succeeded by J. B. Cumming, and
J. D. Waddell was colonel. On the promotion of Lieuten¬
ant-Colonel Cumming, Maj. John A. Jones was advanced,
and he being killed in battle was succeeded by E. M.
Seago. When Major Jones was promoted, Roger L.
Gamble took his place, and was afterward succeeded by
J. D. Waddell, on whose promotion William Craig became
major. Captain Leonard was succeeded by C. H. Miner.

<5a 6

42

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

The Twenty-first regiment Georgia volunteers was
organized with John T. Mercer as colonel, James J. Mor¬
rison, lieutenant-colonel, and T. W. Hooper, major.
The adjutant was T. J. Verdery. The captains were
T. C. Glover (A), A. S. Hamilton (B), J. F. Waddell (C),
H. T. Battle (D), J. R. Hart (E), John T. Boykin (F),
Wesley Kinman (G), James C. Nisbet (H), Michael
Lynch (I), John B. Ackridge (K). The Twenty-first
served in the army of Northern Virginia, acting a gallant
part in the many great battles in which it was engaged.
Col. John T. Moore being killed in battle, was succeeded
by Thomas W. Hooper. Lieutenant-Colonel Morrison
was followed by Hooper; T. C. Glover, who had succeeded
Hooper as major on his first promotion, became lieuten¬
ant-colonel when Hooper was promoted to the command
of the regiment. When Glover became lieutenant-colonel,
M. Lynch became major. Adjutant Verdery was followed
by L. F. Bakewell. Captain Glover was followed by
W. M. Butt, who was killed in battle. Captain Kinman
was succeeded by N. B. Hudgins, and Nisbet by John B.
Countiss. The Twenty-first was one of the regiments
commanded by the gallant General Doles, who fell at the
second battle of Cold Harbor.

The Twenty-second regiment Georgia volunteers, also
organized in 1861, had at first the following officers: Col.
Robert H. Jones; Lieut. -Col. T. W. Pritchett; Maj. J.
Warden; Adjt. I. A. Girardeau; Capts. L. D. Lallerstadt
(A), Thomas S. Hundley (B), B. C. McCurry (C), John
Gibson (D), H. N. Howell (E), P. E. Willis (F), J. J.
Jones (G), J. D. W. McDonald (H), George H. Jones (I),
J. T. Albert (K). The Twenty- second, like all the other
regiments raised in the early months of the war, was
anxious to go to Virginia. This wish was gratified, and
it had the honor of being assigned to an army whose fame
has never been surpassed in the annals of time, and the
good fortune to be placed in the brigade led by the gal¬
lant A. R. Wright, of Georgia. The first colonel, Robert

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

43

H. Jones, was succeeded by George H. Jones. Lieuten¬
ant-Colonel Pritchett was succeeded by Maj. Joseph Was-
den, who was killed in battle. To the vacant
majorship Lawrence D. Lallerstadt succeeded. Adjutant
Girardeau was followed by S. L. Bedell and he by J. D.
Daniel. Captain Lallerstadt was succeeded by G. W.
Rush, killed. The captains of Company B were, in suc¬
cession, Thomas S. Hundley, J. W. Walker, F. M. Heath
and I. C. A. Beall. Captain Gibson was followed by J. N.
Mercier; Howell by J. D. Foster; J. J. Jones by W. F.
Jones (died) and G. W. Thomas; J. D. W. McDonald
by F. M. Connally, J. W. Leonard (killed) and H. J. L.
Beall; G. H. Jones by A. B. Rodgers; Albert (killed) by
J.W. Callaway (killed) and F. M. Clayton.

The first field officers of the Twenty-third regiment
Georgia volunteers were : Thomas Hutchison, colonel ; W.
P. Barclay, lieutenant-colonel ; E. F. Best, major. The
adjutant was C. Saunders. The captains were Benjamin
G. Pool (A), J. H. Huggins (B), M. R. Ballinger (C),
John L. Steele (D), James Loveless (E), B. F. King (F),
John J. A. Sharp (G), Francis M. Young (H), M. L.
Pritchett (I), Andrew Young (K). This regiment served
the greater part of the war in the army of Northern Vir¬
ginia. It was placed in the brigade commanded by Gen.
Alfred Colquitt ; was sent to Florida with Colquitt, and
helped to gain the victory of Olustee. Returning to
Virginia in the spring of 1864, it assisted in the defense of
Petersburg and renewed its brilliant career with the army
under Lee. In the spring of 1865 it was in North Caro¬
lina under General Johnston, and surrendered with him,
April 26th. During this long service it had five colonels,
five lieutenant-colonels and five majors. The colonels
were Thomas Hutchison, W. P. Barclay (killed in action),
Emory F. Best, J. H. Huggins and M. R. Ballinger.
The lieutenant-colonels were W. P. Barclay, E. F. Best,
Joseph H. Huggins, M. R. Ballinger, and J. J. A. Sharp;
the majors, E. F. Best, J. H. Huggins, M. R. Ballinger,

44

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

J. J. A. Sharp and W. J. Boston. Adjt. C. Saunders was
followed by E. Fort. Captain Pool was succeeded by
W. J. Boston; Ballinger by H. T. Kennon; King by
R. W. Mitchell.

The Twenty-fourth regiment Georgia volunteers had
at its organization the following field officers: Col.
Robert McMillan; Lieut. -Col. C. C. Sanders; Maj. R. E.
McMillan. The adjutant was D. E. Banks. The cap¬
tains were J. N. Chandler (A), P. E. Davant (B), W. L.
Smith (C), John Conn (D), J. N. Cannon (E), J. H. F.
Mattox (F), W. T. Leonard (G), John H. Mosely (H),
H. I. Pool (I), J. G. Porter (K). W. C. Sears was ensign
of the regiment. This regiment served in the army of
Northern Virginia, fighting gallantly in the many great
battles of that matchless host. It was in the brigade of
W. T. Wofford at the battle of Gettysburg, and suffered
severely in that and in other engagements. During
its career it had two colonels, Robert McMillan and
C. C. Sanders; three lieutenant-colonels, C. C. Sanders,
J. N. Chandler and T. E. Winn, and three majors, R. E.
McMillan, T. E. Winn and F. C. Smith. Adjutant
Banks was succeeded by U. S. Turner. Captain Smith
(killed) was succeeded by F. C. Smith ; Captain Conn by
H. H. Smith, killed in battle. Of two captains of Com¬
pany E, J. N. Cannon was killed and H. P. Cannon died.
Captain Mattox was succeeded by T. E. Winn; Captain
Leonard died in service, and his successor W. S. Brewster
was killed. Captain Mosely died and was succeeded by
George W. Keeling, who was followed by N. J. Dortch,
who died in service.

When the Twenty-fifth regiment Georgia volunteers
was organized, Claudius C. Wilson was made colonel;
W. P. M. Ashby, lieutenant-colonel; W. J. Winn, major;
R. E. Lester, adjutant, and W. D. Bacon, quartermaster.
The captains were A. W. Smith (A), M. L. Bryan (B),
J. Roberts (C), A. J. Williams (D), W. S. Norman (E),
George T. Dunham (F), W. D. Hamilton (G), W. H.

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

45

Wylly (H), A. H. Smith (I), M. J, McMullen (K), R. J.
McCleary (L). The Twenty-fifth, after being equipped
and drilled, was assigned to the department of South Car¬
olina, Georgia and Florida, and throughout the latter part
of 1861 and during 1862 served on the coasts of Georgia
and South Carolina. In 1863 it was sent to north Missis¬
sippi, forming part of the army assembled for the relief
of Vicksburg. In September of that year, being trans¬
ferred to Georgia, in the brigade commanded by its col¬
onel and in the division of W. H. T. Walker, it shared
the perils and glories of Chickamauga. It participated in
the Atlanta, Tennessee and North Carolina campaigns,
surrendering with J. E. Johnston. Soon after Chicka¬
mauga Colonel Wilson was promoted to brigadier-general,
but in the same month he died. W. J. Winn succeeded
him as colonel of the regiment, and W. H. Wylly, who
had been captain of Company H, afterward of Company
A, and promoted major, became at the same time
lieutenant-colonel, while Capt. A. W. Smith became
major. Among other changes, R. J. McCleary, who had
commanded the extra company, L, became captain of
Company C; Captain Williams became lieutenant-colonel,
and A. H. Smith of Company I took command of Com¬
pany D ; G. W. Holmes succeeded Norman as captain of
company E; R. R. Young took the place of Dunham as
captain of Company F, and was succeeded by J. R. Moore ;
J. C. Howell was Wylly ’s successor as captain of Company
A; S. D. Bradwell became captain of Company H, J.
M. Smith of Company I, and J. R. Cooper of Com¬
pany K.

The Georgia legion, composed of infantry, cavalry and
artillery, was organized before the battle of First Manas¬
sas, with Thomas R. R. Cobb as colonel, P. M. B.
Young, lieutenant-colonel, Ben C. Yancey, major, J. C.
Rutherford, adjutant. The infantry captains were
W. D. Conyers (A), C. A. McDaniel (B), L. J. Glenn (C),
Thomas Camak (D), W. S. Morris (E), W. F. S. Powell

46

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

(F), G. B. Knight (G). The cavalry captains were T. P.
Stovall (A), Z. A. Rice (B), W. G. Deloney (C), W. J.
Lawton (D). The artillery company was commanded by
Capt. M. Stanley. The legion served through most of
the war with the army of Northern Virginia, and was
with Longstreet at Chattanooga and in east Tennessee.
Ten companies became the Ninth Georgia cavalry and
served under Hampton in the campaign of the Carolinas
in the spring of 1865, surrendering with Johnston, April
26th. The gallant Colonel Cobb became brigadier-gen¬
eral, and was killed at the battle of Fredericksburg, De¬
cember 13, 1862. Lieutenant-Colonel Young became col¬
onel, then brigadier and finally major-general. The last
colonel, G. I. Wright, was acting brigadier-general in the
last campaign. While yet the Georgia legion, the suc¬
cessors to the first field officers were: Cols. P. M. B.
Young and G. I. Wright; Lieut. -Cols. Jeff M. Lamar
(died), Luther J. Glenn, R. S. King and William G.
Deloney; Majs. J. M. Lamar, W. G. Deloney, L. J. Glenn,
Z. A. Rice, Thomas M. Camak, G. I. Wright and W. D.
Conyers. The successors to the First infantry captains
were W. W. McDaniel (B), M. F. Liddell and A. C. Grier
(C), W. A. Winn (killed) and James F. Wilson (D), T. B.
Cox (E), and J. C. Barnett (G). The successors to the
First cavalry captains were J. J. Thompson (A) and T. C.
Williams (C). After ten companies became the Ninth
Georgia cavalry the following were the officers, includ¬
ing changes: Col. G. I. Wright; Lieut. -Col. R. S.
King; Maj. M. D. Jones; Adjt. James Y. Harris. Cap¬
tains: Company A, T. B. Archer, Z. A. Rice, J. P.
Stovall, B. C. King, O. H. P. Julian, J. J. Thomas, B. C.
Young, C. H. Sanders, W. L. Conyers; Company B,
M. D. Jones, L. J. Glenn, W. W. McDaniels; Company
C, W. G. Deloney, T. C. Williams; Company D, C. H.
Camfield, W. J. Lawton, J. F. Wilson, W. A. Winn;
Company E, W. C. Dial, B. S. King, T. B. Cox, W. S.
C. Morris; Company F, G. W. Moore; Company G, Wil-

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

47

liam M. Williams, J. C. Barnett, G. B. Knight; Company
H, J. E. Ritch, W. A. Cain; Company I, W. B. Young,
William Duke; Company K, F. E. Eve, J. J. Floyd;
Company L, A. M. Rogers. Even after the reorganiza¬
tion as the Ninth Georgia cavalry this fine body of troops
was called Cobb’s legion to the last. From the opening
of the spring campaign of 1864 to the close of the war it
was in Hampton’s command.

Phillips’ Georgia legion, another of the commands
organized by June 1, 1861, had for its field officers: Col.
William Phillips, Lieut. -Col. Seaborn Jones, Jr.; Maj.
John D. Wilcoxon, and Adjt. James H. Lawrence. The
infantry captains were O. R. Daniel (A), R. T. Cook (B),
E. S. Barclay (C), H. F. Wimberly (D), Joseph Hamilton
(E), Jackson Barnes (F), Charles Dubignon (G), W. W.
Rich (H), W. B. C. Puckett (I), R. S. Y. Lowry (K), J.
M. Johnson (L), J. F. McClesky (M), S. S. Dunlap (N),
T. K. Sproull (O), W. W. Thomas (P). The cavalry
captains were J. H. Nicholls (A), Wm. H. Rich (B), E.
C. Hardin (C), P. L. Y. Long (D), A. F. Hunter (E),
W. W. Thomas (F). There was an artillery company
attached, with H. N. Ells, captain. The legion served
first in West Virginia under Floyd, next fora few months
on the Georgia coast, then in the army of Northern Vir¬
ginia, reaching Richmond in time to take part with Cobb’s
legion in the Seven Days’ battles, afterward in Cobb’s
brigade, and upon the death of that officer in Wofford’s
until after Gettysburg. Wofford’s brigade went with
Longstreet to Georgia, and though not reaching Chicka-
mauga in time for that battle, took part in the east Ten¬
nessee campaign. On the return to Virginia Cobb’s and
Phillips’ legions were made cavalry commands. In the
division of Wade Hampton they served in Virginia
through 1864, and in 1865 followed that gallant leader
through the campaign of the Carolinas, surrendering with
Johnston’s army, April 26, 1865. During this long service
its officers, exclusive of those named at its organization*

48

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

were as follows: Col. John S. Norris; Lieut.-Cols. R. T.
Cooke (killed in battle), E. T. Barclay, J. Hamilton,
W. W. Rich; Majs. W. B. C. Puckett, Joseph Hamilton,

E. S. Barclay; Adjts. J. W. Wofford, F. S. Fuller, J. A.
Matthias. The infantry captains were: Company A, D. B.
Sanford, F. C. Fuller, O. P. Daniels, P. B. Robinson;
Company B, Thomas Hamilton, I. D. Dodd; Company
C, E. S. Barclay, J. S. Norris, A. S. Erwin; Company E,
Joseph Hamilton, W. H. Barter, J. M. McDonald; Com¬
pany F, P. McGovern; Company H, J. F. Milhollin.
Cavalry captains: Company A, C. Dubignon, A. R.
Love; Company B, T. G. Wilkes, B. B. McKenzie; Com¬
pany C, W. B. C. Puckett, G. A. Roberts; Company D,

H. Buchanan.

The First battalion of infantry has already been men¬
tioned. Its organization as the Thirty-seventh Georgia
will be given in regimental order.

An account of the movements of the Second Georgia
battalion of infantry has already been given. The
organization of this battalion was as follows: Maj.
Thomas Hardeman; Quartermaster F. S. Gross;
Commissary C. S. Rogers; Adjt. W. S. Robinson;
Surg. A. V. Taliaferro; Capts. C. J. Moffit (A), John

F. Dupree (B), George W. Ross (C), George S. Jones
(D). Major Hardeman was subsequently called to other
fields of duty, and George W. Ross became major. W. F.

I. Ross became captain of Company A; W. F. Walker
captain of Company B on the death of Captain Dupree,
and C. R. Redding, captain of Company C on the promo¬
tion of Ross. The gallant manner in which this battalion
began its career was repeated on the many battlefields
of the army of Northern Virginia. Faithful to every
duty, it served in Wright’s famous brigade (afterward
Sorrel’s) and surrendered at Appomattox.

The Third Georgia battalion, as at first organized, had
the following officers : Lieut. -Col. M. A. Stovall; Maj.
A. F. Rudler; Quartermaster B. T. Jones; Capts. James

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

49

D. Yeiser (A), Robert E. Meson (B), M. Kendrick (C),
George M. McDowell (D), Andrew J. White (E), J. J.
Bradford (F), T. D. Caswell (G), W. H. H. Phelps (H).
Under Lieutenant- Colonel Stovall the battalion was on
duty for awhile at Lynchburg, Va., and Goldsboro,
N. C. , and then was sent to east Tennessee to guard
bridges and protect the Southern men of that section.
It was in the Kentucky campaign of 1862, and in the Mur¬
freesboro campaign, after which Stovall was promoted to
brigadier-general, skipping the intermediate grade of col¬
onel. Quartermaster B. T. Jones was succeeded by J. A.
Anderson, Richard Orme and H. P. Richmond. The
battalion was highly complimented in the official reports.
After the battle of Murfreesboro it was united with the
Ninth battalion to form the Thirty-seventh regiment.

The Twenty-sixth regiment Georgia volunteers when
organized had the following field officers: Col. C. W.
Styles; Lieut. -Col. W. A. Lane; Maj. Thomas N. Gard¬
ner; Adjt. E. N. Atkinson. The captains were G. C.
Dent (A), A. S. Atkinson (B), J. C. Nichols (C), D. J.
McDonald (D), Eli S. Griffin (E), Wm. H. Dasher (F),
Ben F. Mosely (G), Wm. A. McDonald (H), Alexander
Atkinson (I), J. S. Blain (K), Ben A. White, Jr. (L).
This regiment was for a time on the Georgia coast under
Lawton, accompanied that officer to Richmond in time to
share in the Seven Days’ battles, thenceforward serving
in the army of Northern Virginia until Appomattox,
where, in the division commanded by Gen. Clement A.
Evans and the corps of John B. Gordon, it shared in the
least charge of that illustrious army. During this long
and honorable service E. N. Atkinson succeeded Colonel
Styles in the command of the regiment; the successors of
Lieutenant-Colonel Lane were E. S. Griffin, J. S. Blain
and William A. McDonald; the majors after Gardner were

E. S. Griffin, J. S. Blain and B. F. Grace; Adjutant
Atkinson was succeeded by Andrew J. Lyles. Before
the reorganization M. R. Cogdell became captain of Com-

Ga 7

50

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

pany L. After the reorganization there were only the
usual ten companies, of which the following were captains
at different times: (A) J. S. Blain and N. Dixon; (B) A.
Atkinson and James H. Hunter; (C) James Knox; (D)
Davidson; (E) E. S. Griffin; (F) John Lee; (G) C. M.
Howell; (H) J. P. Smith and R. Paxton; (I) C. W. Hilliard
and Thomas J. Ivey; (K) B. F. Grace and J. Hilton.

Of the Twenty-seventh regiment Georgia volunteers
the following were the field officers at its organization:
Col. Levi B. Smith; Lieut. -Col. C. T. Zachry, Maj.
H. B. Holliday; Adjt. J. Gardner; Commissary Thomas
Bacon; Quartermaster H. B. Holliday (until appointed
major), and then G. B. Buchanan. The captains were P.
C. Carr (A), J. W. Stubbs (B), C. J. Dennis (C), J. N.
Dorsey (D), W. H. Renfroe (E), J. Wilcher (F), W. D.
Redding (G), W. H. Delamar (H), G. A. Lee (I), H.
Bussey (K). The Twenty-seventh served in Virginia
most of the time until after Chancellorsville, then in
North Carolina; went with the rest of Colquitt’s brigade
to Florida in February, 1864, helping to put an end at
Olustee to Federal invasion of that State ; returned to
Virginia in the spring of 1864 in time to assist in saving
Petersburg from Butler’s grasp; was engaged through
the greater part of 1864 in the defense of that city, and
in 1865 was in the campaign of the Carolinas under Gen¬
eral Johnston, surrendering with him near Goldsboro.
There were many changes in officers during this long and
arduous service. Exclusive of those already named the
officers were: Col. C. T. Zachry; Lieut. -Cols. Brewer,
John W. Stubbs, J. M. Dorsey, James Gardner (killed in
battle) and H. Bussey; Majs. C. J. Dennis, James Gard¬
ner, H. Bussey, W. H. Renfroe (killed) and I. D. Gra¬
ham; Adjt. I. B. Pye; Commissary J. M. Zachry, in
place of Thomas Bacon (killed) ; Quartermaster G. B.
Buchanan; Captains (A) W. E. Dougherty, in place of
Carr (died); (B) J. J. Allen; (C) J. W. Murray, W. W.
Johnson and Thomas Grace; (D) George Latham; (E)

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY. 51

Abercrombie; (F) Edwards; (G) M. L. Billingsley; (H)
R. A. Harkie, in place of Delamar (killed) ; (I) J. D. Gra¬
ham, in place of Lee (killed), and later Baxley; (K) C.
Calhoun.

The Twenty-eighth regiment Georgia volunteers
organized with T. J. Warthen as colonel; George A.
Hall, lieutenant-colonel; J. G. Cain, major; J. W. Rob¬
inson, adjutant. The captains were Tully Graybill (A),
E. B. Hook (B), Wm. P. Crawford (C), N. J. Garrison
(D), George R. Moore (E), Jesse Burtz (F), John Hill,
Jr. (G), Wm. L. Johnson (H), Isaac F. Adkins (I), John
N. Wilcox (K). The Twenty-eighth went to Virginia in
time to share in the battles around Richmond ; remained
with the army of Northern Virginia until after Chancel-
lorsville; went with Colquitt’s brigade to North Carolina;
hurried to the defense of Florida, helping to win the
battle of Olustee, in the spring of 1864; returned to Vir¬
ginia, serving in the Petersburg lines, and in 1865 was
engaged in the campaign of the Carolinas until included
in the capitulation of Johnston. Its officers succeeding
those already named were Tully Graybill, colonel after
the death of Warthen; Lieut. -Cols. James G. Cain and
W. P. Crawford; Majs. Tully Graybill and James W.
Banning; Capts. J. R. Tucker (A), R. W. Flournoy (B),
L. R. Wade (F), J. Johnson (H).

The Twenty-ninth regiment Georgia volunteers had
for its first field officers Col. R. Spaulding; Lieut. -Col.
T. W. Alexander; Maj. L. J. Knight; Adjt. G. Butler.
The captains were C. S. Rockwell (A), W. J. Young (B),
T. S. Wylly (C), J. C. Lamb (D), F. M. Jackson (E), W.
W. Billopp (F), I. J. Owen (G), W. D. Mitchell (H),
J. W. Turner (I), H. C. Bowen (K). This regiment
served until 1863 mainly in the department of South Car¬
olina, Georgia and Florida, during the greater part of 1863
in north Mississippi under Gen. J. E. Johnston, in C. C.
Wilson’s brigade; was in the battle of Chickamauga, in
the Atlanta campaign of 1864, in Hood’s expedition into

52

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

Tennessee, and in the campaign of the Carolinas in the
spring of 1865, surrendering with General Johnston. Dur¬
ing its term of service Wm. J. Young became colonel; W.

D. Mitchell, lieutenant-colonel, and J. C. Lamb, major.
J. D. Henderson became captain of Company A, W. W.
Spencer of Company B, and B. Y. Stanford of Company

E.

At the organization of the Thirtieth regiment Georgia
volunteers the following were the field officers: Col.
David J. Bailey; Lieut. -Col. Miles M. Tidwell; Maj.
Cicero A. Thorpe; Commissary A. N. McLarty; Quarter¬
master J. C. Hightower; Adjt. J. W. McCord. The cap¬
tains were John L. Barnett (A), H. Hendrick (B), J. G.
Lindsey (C), Thomas C. Bartlett (D), Robert M. Hitch
(E), Wm. N. Magonick (F), John Edmondson (G), Francis
M. Harrell (H), C. A. Dollar (I), Wm. B. Richards (K).
The Thirtieth served until the spring of 1863 in the de¬
partment of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida; then
went to Mississippi, with other regiments already men¬
tioned, forming the brigade of Col. C. C. Wilson, and
served under him at Chickamauga, soon after which he
was promoted to brigadier-general. After his death in
November, 1863, the Thirtieth was assigned to the brigade
of General Stevens, of Walker’s division. It served
through the Atlanta, Tennessee and Carolina campaigns,
surrendering with Johnston near Goldsboro. During this
time its officers succeeding those already named were
Cols. Thomas W. Mangham and James S. Boynton; Majs.
J. R. Boynton and Henry Hendrick ; Commissary J. C.
Little. Felix L. Matthall became captain of Company
A, R. J. Andrews of C, Hudson Whittaker of D,
John McLeod of E, and George T. Longino of K.

Of the Thirty-third, Col. A. Littlefield, mentioned in
the above list, there is no record.

In addition to the forces raised for the Confederate
States service, Governor Brown gave his energetic efforts
to the maintenance of the military force of 10,000 men

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

53

for State defense, authorized by the legislature of i860.
In his message, November, 1861, he gave an interesting
account of what had been done in this department :

Early in the spring I divided the State into four sections
or brigades, intending if [necessary to raise one brigade of
volunteers in each section, and appointed one major-gen¬
eral and two brigadier-generals with a view to the prompt
organization of one division in case of emergency. The
position of major-general was tendered to Gen. Henry R.
Jackson, who has lately gained a very important victory
over a greatly superior force of the enemy in northwestern
Virginia, who declined it in favor of Col. William H. T.
Walker, late of the United States army, and a most gal¬
lant son of Georgia. I then, in accordance with the
recommendation of General Jackson, and the dictates of
my own judgment, tendered the appointment to Colonel
Walker, by whom it was accepted. The office of briga¬
dier-general was tendered to and accepted by Col. Paul J.
Semmes for the Second brigade, and Col. William Phillips
for the Fourth brigade. With a view to more speedy and
active service under the Confederate government, Gen¬
erals Walker and Semmes resigned before they had
organized their respective commands. About this time
our relations with the government of the United States
assumed so threatening an aspect that I ordered General
Phillips to organize his brigade as rapidly as possible, and
to throw the officers into a camp of instruction for train¬
ing that they might be the better prepared to render
effective those under their command. This camp of
instruction was continued for about two weeks and the
officers sent home to hold their respective commands in
readiness. This was the condition of our volunteer organ¬
ization early in June, when the United States troops
crossed the Potomac and invaded the soil of Virginia.
Not knowing how soon a similar invasion of our own soil
might be made by a landing of troops upon our coast, I
ordered General Phillips to call his whole brigade into
a camp of instruction, and hold them in readiness for im¬
mediate action should emergencies require it. This order
was promptly obeyed by the energetic and efficient officer
to whom it was given. General Phillips, assisted by
Adjutant-General Wayne and Major Capers, the superin¬
tendent of the Georgia military institute, pressed forward

54

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

the instruction and preparation of troops with great activ¬
ity and energy. The troops remained in camp from the
nth of June till the 2d of August. They were a noble,
patriotic, chivalrous band of Georgians, and I hazard noth¬
ing in saying, military men being the judges, that no bri¬
gade in the Confederate service was composed of better
material, or was better trained at that time for active serv¬
ice in the field. The season having so far advanced that it
was not probable that our coast would be invaded before
cold weather, I tendered the brigade to President Davis
for Confederate service in Virginia. The President re¬
fused to accept the tender of the brigade, but asked for
the troops by regiments. Believing that a due respect
for the rights of the State should have prompted the
President to accept those troops under their State organ¬
ization, and if any legal obstacle in the way of accepting
a brigade existed that it should have been removed by
the appointment of the general who had trained the men
and who was their unanimous choice, to continue to com¬
mand them in active service, I at first refused to disband
a State organization, made in conformity to the statute,
and tender the troops by regiments ; more especially as
the President only demanded the two regiments, which
would have left the three battalions to be disbanded or
maintained as battalions through the balance of the sea¬
son by the State. Finally the President agreed to accept
the battalions and regiments, and in view of the pressing
necessity for troops in Virginia, I yielded the point, and
accepted General Phillips’ resignation, and permitted the
troops to be mustered into the Confederate service by
regiments and battalions.

About the time these troops left, the secretary of war
also ordered out of the State the regiment of regulars
under Colonel Williams, and the Second regiment of vol¬
unteers commanded by Colonel Semmes, both excellent
regiments, well drilled and armed. This left the coast
almost entirely defenseless. By that time I had permit¬
ted nearly all the arms of the State to go into the Con¬
federate service, and it has been a very difficult matter
to get arms enough to supply the troops since ordered
to the coast.

At the time Fort Pulaski was by an ordinance of our
State convention turned over to the Confederate govern¬
ment, the number and size of the guns in the fort were

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

55

very inadequate to its successful defense against a fleet
with heavy guns, and as the secretary of war made no
provision for the proper supply of guns or ammunition,
I deemed it my duty to purchase, with funds from the
State treasury, the necessary supply, which was done
at a cost of $101,521.43.

The governor stated that during August and September
no invasion was feared, but as the colder season came on
apprehension was felt. He visited the coast and inspected
the fortifications, and deciding that the measures of pro¬
tection taken by authority of the Confederate States were
insufficient, determined to call out State troops. In
the early part of September he appointed George P. Har¬
rison a brigadier- general, and ordered him to organize a
brigade and arm it as far as means permitted with reg¬
ular rifles, and the balance with good country rifles and
shotguns, and to throw the men into camp of instruction
near the coast. This brigade was rapidly formed and put
in good condition, and F. W. Capers was then commis¬
sioned brigadier-general and assigned to the same duty.
Subsequently a third brigade was formed by Brig-Gen.
W. H. T. Walker.

During this period of active military preparations, Ira
R. Foster ably performed the duties of State quarter¬
master-general, and Col. J. I. Whitaker was commissary-
general. Hon. Thomas Butler King had been sent to
Europe as commissioner to arrange for a line of steamers
for direct trade, under authority of an act of the legisla¬
ture. In equipping Fort Pulaski and other fortifications,
in arming and maintaining troops, and in all the various
expenses of war, $1,000,000 had been spent. Among
these expenditures was the purchase of steamers for coast
defense.

Commodore Josiah Tattnall, of Georgia, a famous naval
officer who had assisted in opening China and Japan to
commerce, had resigned from the old navy upon the seces¬
sion of his State, and on February 28th was appointed
senior flag-officer of the State navy, which then did not

56

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

possess a boat or a gun. In March he was appointed
commander in the Confederate States navy and assigned
to the command of whatever navy he could find or create
in the waters of South Carolina and Georgia. He suc¬
ceeded during the summer in producing the semblance
of a flotilla, a “mosquito fleet,” as it was called, by arm¬
ing a river steamer and a few tugs with such guns as
could be procured. This flotilla he was directed by the
Confederate government to distribute along the coast
from Port Royal south, for the special purpose of aiding
vessels coming from England with war supplies.

Early in September, 1861, Brig. -Gen. A. R. Lawton,
who had been in command of the district of Savannah
since April 17th, informed the secretary of war that there
was a pressing necessity for additional troops on the coast
at the earliest possible moment. “I have received and
mustered into service,” he said, “enough to replace the
two regiments suddenly ordered to Virginia (Semmes’
and Williams’ regiments), and these are but enough to
man the batteries on the coast, leaving us no protection
on the mainland in case of trouble. Nearly all the com¬
panies I have at this moment are entirely raw and undis¬
ciplined. The large calls upon the State of Georgia have
taken away nearly every trained company and all the
arms, except such as may be found in private hands. I
am now endeavoring to organize all such as can furnish
their own arms and muster them into service. In this
way only can I secure a force that will give any protec¬
tion to this coast.” He asked the approval of this course
and that Duncan L. Clinch might be commissioned col¬
onel and authorized to raise a regiment.

The growing alarm, on account of the aggressive naval
operations of the North, caused Governor Brown to add
his appeal, and General Lawton was authorized to organ¬
ize such military force as he deemed necessary. On Sep¬
tember 25th Secretary Benjamin telegraphed Lawton it
was believed the enemy’s naval expedition was intended

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

57

for Brunswick, and that the Bartow artillery had been
ordered to Savannah. Lawton replied: “I can do noth¬
ing for want of arms, unless I hold those now landing
from steamer Bermuda. I sent to-day a special agent to
Richmond on this subject. Georgia is stripped of arms.
Men in abundance, if a few days are allowed.” To this
the governor added an urgent request for Stovall’s bat¬
talion, then at Lynchburg, and five other armed com¬
panies of Georgia troops. This request was not acceded
to by the secretary, but it was ordered that 1,000 smali-
arms and one 12-pounder rifled gun should be turned
over to Lawton. At this time the latter had an aggre¬
gate present of about 3,000 men, at sixteen posts, the
most important of which were Tybee island, Brunswick,
Camp Lawton, Savannah, Fort Pulaski, Sapello island
and Fort Screven. On October 26th the military depart¬
ment of Georgia was created, and General Lawton was
put in command, with headquarters at Savannah, and
three days later he was notified that the enemy’s fleet
had sailed for the South. His force having considerably
increased, Colonel Mercer was commissioned brigadier-
general.

It soon became apparent that the first object of the
Federal fleet was Port Royal, S. C. , and simultaneously
the defenders of the coast were cheered by the intelli¬
gence that Gen. Robert E. Lee had been appointed to
command of the military department including the coasts
of South Carolina, Georgia and east Florida. General
Lawton’s defensive force now consisted of about 2,000
men under General Mercer, at and near Brunswick, and
about 3,500 north of the Altamaha and generally near
Savannah. About 500 of his command were cavalry,
very well mounted and armed, and the remainder
included three batteries of artillery. About 2,000 of the
infantry were well drilled and disciplined. There were
also available about 3,000 men, “armed in a fashion,
under the State organization,” within a few hours’ call,

58

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

from the city, by mail. With the assistance of naval
officers the channels of approach to Savannah were being
blocked in several places.

The condition of the Georgia coast defense is described
in the report of Ordnance Officer W. G. Gill. On the
south end of Jekyl island were one 42-pounder and four
32-pounders, with 60 pounds of shot and shell. The Saint
Simon’s island batteries mounted a 10-inch and an 8-inch
columbiad, two 42 -pounders and five 3 2 -pounders, and
75 rounds of ammunition. Fort Pulaski had five 10-inch
and nine 8-inch columbiads, two 10-inch mortars, two
42-pounders, twenty 32-pounders, one 24-pounder, and
considerable ammunition. Fort Jackson had one 32-
pounder rifle, five 32-pounders, three 18-pounders. The
Green island battery had one 10-inch rifled gun, one
10-inch and two 8-inch columbiads, two 42-pounders and
four 32-pounders. Thunderbolt battery had one 8-inch
gun and three 1 8-pounders. Another interesting item
of this report is that “some of the regiments on the coast
are armed with shotguns and sporting rifles. They
have little or no ammunition for them. I propose to put
up for the shotguns a blank cartridge, to fire a small
linen bag containing 12 buckshot.”

Commodore Tattnall, with his little flotilla of three
vessels, boldly attacked the Federal fleet at the entrance
of Port Royal sound, on November 4th and again on the
5th. On the afternoon of the 6th General Drayton’s
forces were reinforced by 450 Georgia infantry, under
Captain Berry, and Captain Read’s battery of two
1 2-pounder howitzers and 50 men. On the 7th, after the
bombardmenCof Forts Walker and Beauregard had been
in progress for about an hour, and the Confederate gun¬
ners were becoming exhausted, General Drayton brought
up the greater part of Read’s artillery company as a
relief, and at the same time Col. W. H. Stiles arrived
with the cheering intelligence that his regiment was
approaching. About 2 o’clock p. m. Fort Walker

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

59

became untenable, and the guns were disabled. The
island of Hilton Head was abandoned, the Georgia bat¬
tery losing its guns. Fort Beauregard was also evacu¬
ated, and the enemy thus gained a permanent base for
naval action. Tattnall, however, brought off his
mosquito fleet in safety.

The Federal light-draught gunboats were soon flitting
through the passages of the island-fringed coast of
Georgia, and expeditions were sent through Ossabaw,
Warsaw, St. Helena and Cumberland sounds, as far
down as Fernandina, rapidly gaining possession of the
whole coast line except the entrance to Savannah har¬
bor. These scouting vessels did not venture to attack
Fort Pulaski, but landed a force of men on Tybee island
on the 24th of November, after shelling the martello
tower and battery, which had been abandoned some two
weeks before. Captain Read, with a detachment of his
command, crossed over to the island after dark to burn
the hospital, but found the enemy too numerous.
Learning that the Federals were gathering up the cotton
and rice from the plantations, he burned some of these
products and retired to Cockspur island. Commodore
Tattnall’s flotilla, the steamers Pocahontas, Seneca, Flag
and Augusta, lay near Fort Pulaski, and as the enemy’s
gunboats kept well out of range, he endeavored by an
attack and retreat to draw them closer. The naval skir¬
mish continued for an hour, but was ineffective, and the
Federals were too wary to give the fort an opportunity
to participate. For several days afterward shells were
thrown at long range toward Pulaski. During the stay
of the Federal fleet at Tybee there was great excitement,
and extensive preparations were made under the imme¬
diate direction of General Lee for the warm reception of
the enemy. To compel the enemy to pass under the
guns of Fort Pulaski in approaching the city, piles were
driven in the channels which open into the river on the
north and south, and other obstructions made which

60

CONFEDERATE MI LI TART HISTORY.

were for the time effective. Lieut. James H. Wilson,
then topographical officer, later a famous cavalry leader,
and in 1898 one of the two major-generals of cavalry
appointed for the war with Spain (the other being the
famous Confederate, “Little Joe’’ Wheeler), took an expe¬
dition by boat from Hilton Head about Christmas, 1861,
to saw off and pull out these piles on the north of the
river, and had nearly cleared a passage when detected.
Tattnall then came down to the mouth of the Wright
river and drove off the working party.

The Federals also sought to use a channel leading up
from the south, from Warsaw sound, through Wilming¬
ton river and St. Augustine creek to the Savannah just
below Fort Jackson. An attack by this route had been
foreseen and guarded against by the erection of a battery
on a small island opposite Fort Jackson, which in honor
of Dr. Cheves, who superintended its construction, was
called Fort Cheves, and mounted some long 3 2 -pounders
from Norfolk navy yard. Fire rafts were also prepared.
One of these, completed about Christmas, was cut loose
by a traitor and floated down unlighted to Tybee beach,
the Federal position. The main object of the expedition
to Tybee island was to escort Gen. Quincy A. Gillmore,
chief engineer of the Federal corps at Hilton Head.
His purpose was to prepare batteries for the reduction of
Fort Pulaski, but this was carefully concealed from the
Confederate authorities.

In November, the famous steamship Fingal had evaded
the blockaders and entered the port of Savannah in safety,
bringing 10,000 Enfield rifles, 1,000,000 ball cartridges,
2,000,000 percussion caps, 3,000 cavalry sabers, 1,000
short rifles and cutlass bayonets, 1,000 rounds of ammu¬
nition per rifle, 500 revolvers and ammunition, 2 large
rifled cannon, 2 smaller rifles, 400 barrels of cannon
powder, and a lot of medical stores and material for
clothing. No single ship ever again brought into the
Confederacy so large a cargo of military and naval sup-

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY. 61

plies. The Fingal was bought on the Clyde in Septem¬
ber, 1 86 1, by Capt. James D. Bulloch, of Georgia, the
European agent of the Confederate States. She was a
new ship, with a speed of thirteen knots, high for that
time, and was the first to run the blockade directly for
the Confederate government. The passengers besides
Captain Bulloch were Col. Edward C. Anderson, Messrs.
Foster and Moffatt, of Charleston, and Dr. Holland, an
ex-surgeon of the United States army. They sailed
from Greenock, Scotland, early in October, under the
British flag, and with a British captain ; collided with an
Austrian brig at Holyhead, but fortunately escaped
injury, and arrived at Bermuda November 2d. Bulloch
then explained to his English crew that his true object
was to run the blockade, and that though the ship still
flew the British flag, he had a bill of sale for her in his
pocket. The captain and crew stood by him in this
emergency, and the merchantman was at once trans¬
formed into a respectable fighting ship. Pilot Makin,
taken up from the blockade-runner Nashville, at St.
George, brought them safely to Savannah about the
middle of November without getting in sight of a block-
ader.

As soon as the Fingal arrived with her precious stores
Governor Brown applied for arms to replace those which
Georgia had furnished the Confederate States. It finally
appeared that 1,000 of the Enfield rifles had been shipped
directly to Governor Brown, and but 9,000 were for the
Confederate government. One- half of these were
ordered to be distributed by General Lee to the troops of
Georgia and South Carolina, but with the condition that
the troops receiving these arms must be enlisted for
three years or the war. On the latter account Colonel
Dow’s regiment of Mississippians was armed out of the
guns expected by Georgia.

When Captain Bulloch was ready to sail out, about ten
days after making port, the arrival of the Federals at

62

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

Tybee made that purpose a dangerous one, but in obedi¬
ence to the order of the secretary of the navy he loaded
the ship with cotton and resin, and on December 20th
dropped down to Wilmington island, accompanied by
Tattnall’s squadron, the Savannah (flagship), Lieut. J. N.
Maffitt; the Resolute, Lieut. J. P. Jones; the Sampson,
Lieut. J. Kennard, and the Ida and Bartow. The Chat¬
ham artillery was also sent to Skidaway island to assist
in case there should be a conflict. On the 23d the Fingal
and Tattnall’s boats ran down near the enemy’s gunboats,
but found them in such strong force that they were com¬
pelled to return. In the brief action which accompanied
this reconnoissance, Tattnall’s flagship was hit in the
wheel-house and required assistance from the Resolute in
returning. The Fingal found every channel of escape shut
off, and a pilot sent to reconnoiter a passage by way of the
Romney marsh, himself narrowly evaded capture. The
Federal authorities were undoubtedly fully aware of the
presence of the daring cruiser and her anxiety to get out.
To add to the difficulties of exit, a number of hulks loaded
with stone were sunk by the enemy in the channel of the
river below Fort Pulaski, as well as in other channels,
and late in January Captain Bulloch reported that there
was no prospect of taking the ship out. He then turned
her over to Lieut. G. T. Sinclair and returned to Europe
by way of Wilmington.

Gen. Henry R. Jackson, whose gallant career in Vir¬
ginia will be hereafter described, was appointed major-
general of State forces by Governor Brown, and assumed
command December 28, 1861, with headquarters at
Savannah. General Jackson advised General Lee that
he held himself subject to the latter’s directions in all
military operations looking to the defense of the State,
and would report as directed ; and added that the personal
relations between General Lawton and himself were of
such a character as to insure the most cordial feelings
and a perfect harmony of action. To this Lee responded :

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

63

“I am much gratified that the division under your com¬
mand is ready for the defense of the State of Georgia
and is placed at my disposal for that purpose, ” adding,
“I will direct General Lawton to indicate to you where
your troops can be of most service, and to designate such
points as you may take under your exclusive charge. ”

CHAPTER III.

GEORGIA TROOPS IN VIRGINIA— LAUREL HILL, CAR-
RICK’S FORD AND FIRST MANASSAS— DEATH OF
BARTOW— CHEAT MOUNTAIN, GREENBRIER RIVER
AND CAMP ALLEGHANY — GEORGIANS IN NORTH
CAROLINA— EVENTS AT PENSACOLA.

MMEDIATELY after the secession of Virginia the
Confederate government hurried troops to that State
from every part of the Confederacy, showing great
diligence in preparing to defend the soil of the “Old Do¬
minion’ ’ at every point. Of the Georgia regiments ordered
there, part were assigned to the army of the Shenandoah
commanded by Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. The Second
brigade of that army consisted of the Seventh, Eighth,
Ninth and Eleventh Georgia regiments of infantry, and
the First Kentucky, and was commanded by Col. Francis
S. Bartow. The disposition of the other Georgia troops
was as follows : The Sixth and Tenth regiments were
sent to Yorktown and vicinity, Col. Lafayette McLaws,
with the Tenth, being put in command at Williamsburg;
and Ramsey’s First, which had experienced soldier life
at Pensacola, formed part of the force under Gen. R. S.
Garnett at Laurel hill in western Virginia. To this
place the First had marched from Staunton, a distance of
120 miles, early in June, 1861.

Gen. George B. McClellan, commanding the Federal
army in western Virginia, opened his campaign about
the same time that Gen. Robert Patterson began his
advance against Johnston in the Shenandoah. But
McClellan had carried his campaign to a triumphant con¬
clusion more than a week before the disaster to the Fed¬
eral arms at Manassas. Hence the campaign of Laurel

64

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

65

Hill was the first of the war. The total force under the
command of General Garnett at Laurel hill and Rich
mountain, after the arrival of Ramsey’s First Georgia,
amounted to 4,500 men, a large number of whom were
sick in the hospital. Against this little army McClellan
advanced with 20,000 men. On the 7th of July General
Morris, commanding one of McClellan’s divisions, about
8,000 strong, marched to a position one mile and a half
in front of Laurel hill, while McClellan himself, with the
rest of his force, advanced to Roaring creek, about two
miles from Colonel Pegram’s position on Rich mountain.
The First Georgia moved out in front of Laurel hill July
8th, and soon encountered the Federal skirmishers, who,
after the shelling of the woods by their artillery,
attempted to occupy a position which included a round
hill in front of Belington. Lieutenant-Colonel Clark,
seeing them, quickly deployed his men, and exclaiming,
“Up the hill, boys! and remember you are Georgians,’’
led a gallant charge, which drove back the enemy with
some loss. For several days skirmishing continued in
front of Laurel hill, and on the 9th, while in ambuscade
before the camp, the Georgians were under a heavy fire
for several hours. On the nth General Rosecrans led a
strong force from McClellan’s army around Pegram’s
left flank, and about two miles in rear of his position.
While Rosecrans was making his attack at Rich mountain
Morris was subjecting Garnett’s troops at Laurel hill to
a lively bombardment.

Late in the evening of the nth Garnett was notified
that Rich mountain could no longer be held. Accord¬
ingly he gave orders for the immediate evacuation of
Laurel hill. In a pouring rain, which had continued
almost without intermission since the previous morning,
the Confederates began their retreat to Beverly, sixteen
miles distant from Laurel hill and only five miles from
Rich mountain. When within five miles of Beverly Gar¬
nett, being falsely informed that the Union troops had

Ga 9

66

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

occupied that place, retraced his steps almost to his
abandoned camp, and leaving the pike at Leadsville
turned off upon an almost impassable road over Cheat
mountain into the valley of the Cheat river, following the
stream northward toward St. George in the forlorn hope
of turning the mountains at the north end of the ridges
and then regaining his communications. On the 13th the
pursuing Federals overtook the Confederates between
Kaler’s and Carrick’s fords. The First Georgia and Tal¬
iaferro’s Twenty-third Virginia, with a section of artil¬
lery under Lieutenant Lanier and a cavalry force under
Captain Smith, constituted the rear guard. The Geor¬
gians were ordered to hold the enemy in check until the
wagon train had passed, and then retire behind the Vir¬
ginians, who were to defend the train until the Georgians
had formed in a new position. This system of retiring
upon positions suited for defense was pursued without
loss until Carrick’s ford was reached, where the Twenty-
third Virginia, whose turn it was to face the enemy,
suffered considerable loss. At the next ford, General
Garnett was killed, after giving the order for the rear
guard to march as rapidly as possible and overtake the
main force. Here the direct pursuit ceased. The Con¬
federates, now commanded by Colonel Ramsey, marched
all night and at daylight passed Red House in Maryland,
not far from West Union, where there was a large Federal
force under Gen. C. W. Hill, who had orders to intercept
the Confederates; but by the time Hill’s advance reached
Red House the Southerners had turned the mountains
and were moving southward on fairly good roads. Gar¬
nett’s half-famished men, who had been marching with¬
out food, or opportunity to obtain any, moving now
through a friendly country found no further difficulty in
getting all needed supplies. They had lost the greater
part of their wagon train at Carrick’s ford. At the little
town of Petersburg the people turned out en masse with
abundance of food for the exhausted Confederates, who

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY. 67

from this point moved by easier marches to Monterey in
Highland county.

On the day of the combat at Carrick’s ford, the larger
part of six companies of the First Georgia regiment,
under Major Thompson, became separated from the main
body of the army. Concealed behind the thick mountain
undergrowth, they watched the army of General Morris
march by, and then started over the pathless mountains
to escape to the southeast if possible. After wandering
about for three days without food, trying to appease
their hunger by chewing the inner bark of the laurel
trees, they were rescued by a Virginia mountaineer
named Parsons. He took them to his own farm where,
with the assistance of his neighbors, he killed several
beeves and fed the starving Georgians. With well-filled
haversacks they resumed their march under the guidance
of Parsons, who led them safely to the Confederate camp
at Monterey, where they received a joyous greeting from
their comrades, who had thought them captured. The
greater part of the missing referred to by Colonel Ram¬
sey in his dispatch from Petersburg, W. Va., when he
reported hundreds of them captured, had now come in
with their arms and under their officers. At Monterey
news of the glorious victory at Manassas revived the
hopes of the despondent troops and gave them courage
for any new enterprise that might be required.

Having been informed that McDowell was on the
march to attack Beauregard at Manassas, Gen. J. E.
Johnston, leaving part of his force to watch and impede
the progress of Patterson in the Shenandoah valley, skill¬
fully eluded the Federal commander and led 8,000 men
to Manassas. Johnston himself, with Bee’s brigade,
joined Beauregard on the morning of July 20th. Stone¬
wall Jackson’s brigade also came up and was placed in
position. Col. Francis Bartow with two regiments of
his brigade, the Seventh Georgia under Col. Lucius J.
Gartrell, and the Eighth under Lieut. -Col. William M.

68

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

Gardner, reached the field on the evening of July 20th,
and early on the morning of the 21st was stationed
between McLean’s and Blackburn’s fords. Later in the
morning he was sent along with Bee’s brigade to the
support of Cocke at the Stone bridge, where the Federal
main attack seemed about to be made. About the same
time Col. N. G. Evans made his movement to the rear,
and facing north met the unexpected attack of the Fed¬
eral column by way of the Sudley road. When Evans
was about to be overwhelmed by this attack, Bee and
Bartow went to his assistance. “As Bee advanced under
a severe fire,’’ General Beauregard reported, “he placed
the Seventh and Eighth Georgia regiments, under the
chivalrous Bartow, at about n a. m. , in a wood of sec¬
ond-growth pines, to the right and front of and nearly
perpendicular to Evans’ line of battle. A fierce and
destructive conflict now ensued. The fire was withering
on both sides, while the enemy swept our short, thin lines
with their numerous artillery, which, according to their
official reports, at this time consisted of at least ten rifled
guns and four howitzers. For an hour did these stout¬
hearted men of the blended commands of Bee, Evans and
Bartow breast an unintermitting battle-storm, animated
surely by something more than the ordinary courage of
even the bravest men under fire. It must have been
indeed the inspiration of the cause and consciousness of
the great stake at issue which thus nerved and animated
one and all to stand unawed and unshrinking in such an
extremity. . . . The Eighth Georgia regiment had
suffered heavily, being exposed, as it took and main¬
tained its position, to a fire from the enemy already
posted within 100 yards of their front and right,
sheltered by fences and other cover. It was at this time
that Lieutenant-Colonel Gardner (commanding the
Eighth) was severely wounded, as were also several other
valuable officers. The adjutant of the regiment, Lieutenant
Branch, was killed, and the horse of the regretted Bar-

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY. 69

tow was shot under him. ” Finally Sherman’s and Keyes’
Federal brigades, having found a passage of Bull Run
above the Stone bridge, threatened the rear of these gal¬
lant and stubborn fighters, and General Bee was com¬
pelled to order them back. But valuable time had been
gained, during which Jackson had brought his brigade
up to an advantageous position, and the disorganized
troops had been rallied on the new line formed by Beaure¬
gard and Johnston. The Georgians now joined in the
impetuous charges which swept the enemy before them
in the struggle for possession of the hills, also in the
final assault under which the Federal army broke and
fled in disorder and panic.

“The victory,’’ said the general commanding on the
field won by Confederate gallantry, “was fraught with
the loss to the service of the country of lives of inesti¬
mable preciousness at this juncture. In the open field
near the Henry house, and a few yards distant from
where Bee fell, the promising life of Bartow, while lead¬
ing the Seventh Georgia regiment, was quenched in
blood.” His death caused great sorrow in the State,
but no soldier could have died more gloriously. His
name was coupled with that of Bee, and was heard in
every home of the South, as well as at every camp-fire.
His dying utterance, as he fell, caught in the arms of the
gallant Colonel Gartrell — “They have killed me, but
never give up the fight” — was a bugle call to valorous
deeds that found an echo in the hearts of the thousands
of Southern patriots ready to do or die in the cause of
their native land. Nor did less honor belong to the gal¬
lant Gardner, who, desperately wounded, lingered for
months between life and death. Neither should the just
meed of praise be withheld from the many heroes of
Manassas, both living and dead, of whom not a name has
been recorded on the scroll of fame. '

Gen. George B. McClellan, now high in the esteem of
the North on account of his successes in western Virginia,

70

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

was called to the east to take command of the army so
disastrously defeated at Manassas. A large part of the
Federal army in western Virginia followed McClellan to
Washington. It therefore seemed a favorable time for
the Confederates to recover what they had lost in that
frontier of the Confederacy. Just before the defeat of
Garnett, Henry R. Jackson, of Georgia, had been com¬
missioned brigadier-general in the army of the Confed¬
erate States and assigned to command at Monterey. He
had sent forward Col. Edward Johnson with the Twelfth
Georgia to reinforce Garnett, when he received news
of the loss of Rich mountain and the retreat of the force
under Garnett. He now hastened to join the Twelfth,
but encountering Scott’s Forty-fourth Virginia in retreat,
deemed it best to return to Monterey and organize a
force to check the apprehended farther advance of the
enemy.

General Jackson remained in command at this post,
organizing the troops collected there; and under Gen¬
erals Coring and Lee commanded the Monterey division,
which included the two Georgia regiments brigaded
under Col. Edward Johnson. Early in August, Henry
R. Jackson moved his command to Camp Bartow, on the
Greenbrier river, at the head of a little valley known as
Traveler’s Repose. General Loring had immediate
command of all the troops in the vicinity of Huntersville.
In August Gen. Robert E. Lee was sent to take command
of the department of Western Virginia. He planned an
expedition against the Federal garrison at Cheat mount¬
ain pass. About the middle of August it began to rain,
and continued to do so without much intermission for six
weeks, causing great sickness and suffering among the
troops. The attack upon the Federal position at Cheat
mountain was fixed for the morning of September 12th.
Colonel Rust, with the Third Arkansas, from Jackson’s
command, was to lead his regiment to a point in the rear
of the Federal position, and Gen. Samuel R. Anderson,

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

71

with two regiments, from Loring’s command, was to sup¬
port him. Jackson was to advance from the Greenbrier
and Loring from Huntersville. Jackson’s advance was
preceded by about ioo men from the First and Twelfth
Georgia regiments, led by Lieutenant Dawson of the
Twelfth, whose duty it was to clear the way of the
enemy’s pickets. After performing this task, and while
on their way to join the main body, they were mistaken
for Federals and fired upon. Several shots were fired
before the mistake was discovered, and two men were
killed and one wounded. All the troops reached the
places assigned them with remarkable promptness and at
the time appointed. The attack by Rust was to be the
signal for the advance of all the troops, but a misconcep¬
tion of orders caused Rust to wait until the golden oppor¬
tunity had passed. As the only hope of success was in a
surprise, which was no longer possible, the troops were
withdrawn to their original positions.

The fact that Rust’s detachment was from Jackson’s
force led to unjust criticism of General Jackson,
which he felt the more keenly because he knew it was
unjust. Some time later, Mr. Benjamin, secretary of
war, wrote to him :

It gives me pleasure to assure you that there is not a
syllable in General Lee’s report that reflects in the
remotest manner any discredit on you, and I hope you
will not feel offended at my expressing surprise that you
should attach any importance or feel any sensitiveness in
relation to sensational articles or reports in the news¬
papers. I see my own action and opinions almost daily
misconceived or misrepresented on “the most reliable
information’’ with perfect equanimity, and you may
well trust to your own well-earned reputation as a per¬
fect shield against all anonymous attacks.

At Camp Bartow, on the Greenbrier river, General
Jackson and the six regiments of his division, reduced in
effective numbers to 1,800 men, worn by privations and
discouraged by previous failures, were attacked October

72

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

3d by 5,000 Federals under command of Brig.-Gen. J. J.
Reynolds. Colonel Johnson, of the Twelfth Georgia,
with an advance guard of 100, held the hostile force in
check for an hour, giving the remainder of the command
time to prepare for defense, and inspiring them to the fight.
Among the memorable incidents of this mountain battle
was the heroic conduct of Private J. W. Brown, of Com¬
pany F, First Georgia, who, upon hearing the order for
the advance guard to fall back, exclaimed, “I will give
them one more shot before I leave, ’ ’ and while ramming
down his twenty-ninth cartridge fell dead at his post.
In forming the line of battle the First Georgia held the
extreme right, where a flank attack was feared. Maj.
George H. Thompson commanded the regiment, Colonel
Ramsey having been cut off by the enemy while serving
with Johnson on the advance guard, and Lieutenant-Col¬
onel Clark being on detached duty at Staunton. Next to
the First was stationed the Twelfth. Under the heavy
fire of the enemy, who having been repulsed on the left
concentrated against the right and center, the Twelfth
was ordered to the center, where a small detachment
under Lieutenant Dawson was already posted near the
shallow river. Promptly and with the coolness of veter¬
ans, the regiment moved under the enemy’s fire, without
reply, to a position where it assisted in the repulse of the
Federal attack. Reynolds, who had expected to destroy
the Confederate force, was compelled to retreat precipi¬
tately to his mountain fastness.

Gen. H. R. Jackson, the commanding general, received
the hearty congratulations of President Davis and the
war department. In a letter to Secretary Benjamin
acknowledging this appreciative notice, General Jackson
wrote :

How much needed by this branch of the army, by sol¬
diers as well as by officers, some expression of approval
was, can only be known by one personally familiar with
the campaign in this part of Virginia, unequaled in its

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

73

peculiar hardships, in the asperities of country and cli¬
mate which have been encountered, in sickness and
suffering, in disappointed hopes and untoward results,
fate seeming at times to have decreed a terrible antithesis
— the misery and obscurity here, the sympathy and the
glory elsewhere. As you must be aware, this command
is mainly composed of the wrecks of General Garnett’s
army, and the annals of warfare might be searched in
vain to find a more pitiable picture of suffering, destitu¬
tion and demoralization than they presented at the close
of their memorable retreat.

In November General Jackson was tendered the com¬
mand of a brigade in a contemplated division of Georgi¬
ans, to be commanded by Gen. E. Kirby Smith in the
army of Northern Virginia, then called the army of the
Potomac ; but this organization was not completed, and
as will be subsequently noted, Jackson felt that his duty
was in another field. Early in December Loring’s forces
were withdrawn from West Virginia and sent to Stone¬
wall Jackson near Winchester. With them went the
First Georgia.

Edward Johnson succeeded to command of the Mon¬
terey line, and in December occupied Camp Alleghany,
holding the mountain pass. There, with about 1,200
effective men, including the Twelfth Georgia under
Lieut. -Col. Z. T. Conner, he brilliantly repelled an
assault made by 1,750 Federals under command of Gen¬
eral Milroy, December 13th. Johnson’s right being
fiercely assailed, he sent to that part of the field five
companies of the Twelfth Georgia, Hawkins’, Bland-
ford’s, Davis’, Hardeman’s and Patterson’s, under Lieut.
U. E. Moore. Johnson says in his report:

Gallantly did the Georgians move up, and taking posi¬
tion on the right, receive a terrible fire from the enemy.
By this time the extreme right had been forced back, but
seeing the Georgians, who came up with a shout, they
joined them, and moved upon the enemy, who taking
advantage of some fallen trees, brush and timber,
poured upon them a terrific fire. , , , I cannot speak in

Ga 10

74

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

terms too exaggerated of the unflinching courage and
dashing gallantry of those 500 men who contended from
7:15 a. m. until 1:45 P- m- against an immensely supe¬
rior force of the enemy, and finally drove them from their
positions and pursued them a mile or more down the
mountain. . . . Lieutenant Moore, whilst gallantly lead¬
ing a charge, fell mortally wounded. This gallant officer
was ever ready for an expedition involving danger; he
was truly brave. Captains Davis, Blandford, Hardeman
and Hawkins, their officers and men, behaved admir¬
ably. Captain Davis and his company were conspicuous
for their gallantry and good conduct throughout the fight.
Adjutant Willis, Lieutenants McCoy, Etheridge, Mar¬
shall and Turpin deserve particular mention for their
good conduct.

Surg. H. R. Green was slightly wounded in the hand
by a spent ball while caring for the wounded. The other
companies of the Twelfth were not so severely attacked.
The loss of the regiment was greater than that of any
other Confederate command on the field — 6 killed and
37 wounded.

Meanwhile the Thirteenth Georgia and Phillips legion
had been undergoing the suffering from exposure and
fever which the command of Gen. J. B. Floyd had
endured in the Gauley valle}', and after the return of the
expedition against Gauley bridge they were ordered to
join General Lee in South Carolina. The First Georgia
volunteers, now in Loring’s division, and under Stone¬
wall Jackson’s command, took part in the Romney expe¬
dition which set out from Winchester on January 1, 1862.
The morning of that day was as beautiful and mild as
May, btfi before night the weather became very severe.
The snow and sleet made it impossible for the loaded
wagons to keep up, and for several nights Jackson’s sol¬
diers bivouacked without tents and without a sufficient
supply of blankets. Their sufferings were terrible, but
they pressed on, driving the Federals Out of Bath and
across the Potomac, occupying Romney, and clearing the
whole of Jackson’s district of Union troops.

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

75

Toward the close of 1861 the Georgia forces at the front
in Virginia were as follows: Bartow’s old-time brigade —
the Seventh, Eighth, Ninth and Eleventh infantry —
nnder Gen. S. A. M. Jones; and Brig. -Gen. Robert
Toombs’ brigade — First regulars, Second, Fifteenth and
Seventeenth volunteers, and Blodgett’s Georgia battery
— were included in Van Dorn’s division of Beauregard’s
army. The Twenty-first infantry, Col. John T. Mercer,
was in Trimble’s brigade of Kirby Smith’s division; in
Col. Wade Hampton’s brigade, under General Whiting,
in the vicinity of Dumfries, were the Nineteenth, Col.
W. W. Boyd, and the Fourteenth, Col. A. V. Brumby;
in General Wigf all’s brigade of the same division was
the Eighteenth infantry, Col. William T. Wofford, and
in the garrison at Manassas, under Col. G. T. Anderson,
were the Twenty-seventh regiment, Col. Levi B. Smith,
and the Twenty-eighth, Col. T. J. Warthen. The Thirty -
fifth infantry, Col. Edward L. Thomas, was in General
French’s brigade in the Aquia district, guarding the
lower Potomac and subjected to frequent naval shelling
by the enemy. One company from Georgia, and Alabama
and Mississippi troops, composed the Jeff Davis legion,
part of J. E. B. Stuart’s cavalry brigade, the nucleus of
the afterward famous cavalry corps of the army of
Northern Virginia. The Sumter Flying artillery, under
Capt. A. S. Cutts, had won great honor in the affair at
Dranesville, and suffered severe loss. “The conduct of
the brave, true and heroic Cutts,’’ wrote General Stuart,
“attracted my attention frequently during the action —
now serving No. i, and now as gunner, and still direct¬
ing and disposing the whole with perfect self-command
and a devotion to his duty that was, I believe, scarcely
ever equaled.’’ This battery and Hamilton’s and
Lane’s were assigned to the reserve artillery under Col¬
onel Pendleton.

In General Magruder’s district, the peninsula, the
Sixth, Tenth and Sixteenth, under Alfred H. Colquitt,

76

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

Lafayette McLaws and Howell Cobb, and Cobb’s legion
under T. R, R. Cobb, well sustained the reputation of
the State. McLaws was promoted brigadier-general and
assigned to important command, and Colonel Colquitt
was given charge of a brigade including the Sixth and
Sixteenth. Late in the year the Twenty-third regiment,
unarmed, was sent forward to Yorktown. An unfortu¬
nate incident in the history of Cobb’s legion is preserved
in the official reports of General Magruder. It appears
that a scouting party had been fired upon, and he had
sent forward an ambuscading force to the vicinity of
New Market bridge. “While the troops were moving
into position on the morning of November 13th, ’’ says
Magruder, “two of my vedettes approached the infantry
position of the Georgia legion, at the time commanded by
Lieutenant-Colonel Garnett. From some cause, after a
short parley, they turned and rode off at full speed.
At this a fire was opened upon them without orders
from the commander. I regret that in the effort to
cause the fire to cease (many of the officers being in
front at its commencement), Major Bagley was killed,
Captain Morris and one private wounded, and Colonel
Garnett’s horse shot under him.’’

During the period in the fall of 1861, when the descent
of a Federal naval expedition was feared at all points of
the coast, some of the Georgians who had been called to
Virginia were ordered to North Carolina for service.
M. A. Stovall’s Third battalion, the Twenty-fourth, and
Colonel Wofford’s Eighteenth were at Goldsboro; but in
November Stovall’s battalion was transferred to east
Tennessee.

The Third Georgia, Col. A. R. Wright, moved into
North Carolina early in September, for the purpose of
reinforcing Fort Hatteras, but that yielding to the enemy
before they could reach it, the regiment took possession
of Roanoke island and set to work putting it in condition
for defense. On October 1st Colonel Wright learned

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

77

that the Federals had landed a regiment on Hatteras
island near Chicamicomico, and with the co-operation of
Commodore Lynch, commanding the steamers Curlew
and Raleigh and the tug Junaloski, he started out with a
detachment of 150 men to try conclusions. At 5 p. m.
they came in sight of the steamer Fanny unloading sup¬
plies at the new Federal post, and opened fire upon her.
Though a gallant resistance was made, the Fanny was
compelled to surrender with two guns and about 50 men.
The gun of the Curlew in this little naval battle was
manned by a detachment of Captain McWhorter’s
Georgia company, with good results. On the 4th, with a
considerable force conveyed by Commodore Lynch’s
flotilla, Colonel Wright returned to Chicamicomico and
landed to attack the Indiana regiment at that place. The
latter retreated, abandoning camp and supplies and los¬
ing some 30 prisoners. The Georgians pursued along
the sand until the Federal forces made a junction. Dur¬
ing this advance Wright’s command was somewhat
annoyed by the firing of the Federal steamer Monticello,
but sustained no loss. This exploit of the Georgians was
the only episode during 1861, in North Carolina, which
resulted in advantage to the Confederate arms. In
December the Third was sent to Savannah.

The Georgia volunteers who arrived at Pensacola, Fla. ,
in the spring of 1861, found the city and navy yard in
the hands of a small force under General Bragg. These
Georgia commands were Ramsey’s First Georgia regi¬
ment, Villepigue’s First Georgia battalion, Capt. Isadore
P. Girardey’s Washington artillery from Augusta, and
the Fifth Georgia regiment. After being m camp and on
duty near Fort Barrancas for six weeks the First Georgia,
about the 1st of June, was ordered to Virginia. The
services of this regiment in that State have already been
described. The Confederates also garrisoned Fort Bar¬
rancas, a little west of the navy yard, on the mainland,
and Fort McRee, on a peninsula running down in the

78

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

gulf about two miles from Barrancas. A mile and a half
east of McRee and a little further south of Barrancas, on
the western extremity of the sandy island of Santa Rosa,
which thence stretches forty miles eastward, stood Fort
Pickens, which, aside from Fortress Monroe and Key
West, was the only fortified post held by the United
States within Confederate territory. On the mainland
between the navy yard and McRee, a number of batteries
were placed, and preparations were on way for an attack
which should bring Pickens also under the Southern flag.
Between the hostile guns lay the bay of Pensacola, and
on the river seven miles northward lay that city, well
out of the range of fire. The Federal garrison was rein¬
forced by several companies, and Col. Harvey Brown was
put in command. Supply ships could approach without
incurring the fire of the Confederate batteries, and war¬
ships were sent to blockade the port and assist in the
defense of the fort. There were no offensive operations
throughout the summer. The Second brigade of troops
was put under command of W. H. T. Walker, promoted
to brigadier-general, and he had in charge two Alabama
regiments, Villepigue’s Georgia battalion and two inde¬
pendent companies, in all about 2,300 men, with Fort
Barrancas and three-fourths of all the batteries. But
General Walker soon tired of inaction and was transferred
to Virginia. The troops were dispirited by the delay in
attack and many were sick.

Finally on October 9th the long projected descent on
Santa Rosa island was made. For the attack, to be
made at night, about 1,000 men were selected, divided
into three bodies, designated for the time as battalions,
and placed under the command of Gen. Richard H.
Anderson. The First battalion was led by Col. James
R. Chalmers of Mississippi, and the Second by Col. J. Pat¬
ton Anderson. The Third, 260 strong, under Col. John
K. Jackson, of Georgia, was made up of volunteers from
the Fifth Georgia regiment and the Georgia battalion.

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

79

An independent company of 53 men, selected from the
Fifth Georgia regiment and Captain Homer’s company
of artillery, lightly armed with pistols and knives, carry¬
ing materials for spiking cannon, burning and destroying
buildings and gun carriages, was placed under command
of Lieutenant Hallonquist. Lieutenant Nelms, adjutant
of the Fifth regiment, was attached to this command,
and Surgeon Tompkins was one of the medical officers in
attendance.

The troops were carried to Pensacola by steamer on
the night of the 8th, then embarked on other boats about
midnight, and two hours later were landed secretly on
the sandy island several miles beyond Fort Pickens. The
object was to put the forces between the fort and the
camp of the New York Zouaves, under Col. Billy Wilson,
and capture the latter. For this purpose Anderson’s
and Chalmers’ battalions took opposite sides of the island,
followed by Jackson and Hallonquist at first in the rear
of Chalmers. After a march of three or four miles a
sentinel suddenly encountered by Chalmers’ command
was shot down, the alarm thereby being given to the Fed¬
eral camp. Jackson immediately pushed his way through
the thickets to the middle of the island and advanced as
speedily as possible toward the camp. His command of
Georgians rapidly drove in or shot down the outposts,
and a rush of a few hundred yards brought them at
charge bayonet into the camp ahead of either of the bat¬
talions. But they found the camp deserted, the Zouaves
having been warned in time by the unfortunate shot at
the sentinel. The Georgians speedily burned the tents,
storehouses and sheds, but as daylight arrived before a
newly-concerted advance could be arranged against the
enemy’s batteries between the camp and fort, such as
would insure success, the march back to the boats was
ordered. During the withdrawal a sharp skirmish
occurred with two Federal companies which attempted to
intercept the retreat. While the troops were embarking

80

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

there was an unfortunate delay which enabled the enemy
to approach and open fire, under which a number of men
were killed or wounded. Among the killed was the gal¬
lant Lieut. Llewellyn A. Nelms, Fifth regiment. The
medical officers and the guard placed over the hospital
building of the camp were captured by the Federals.
A number of Georgia officers and enlisted men were dis¬
tinguished for gallantry in this affair, Capt. Hugh M.
King, on the staff of General Anderson, displaying “com¬
mendable zeal and activity’’ in superintending the
destruction of the camp. Company D, First Georgia
battalion, had a sergeant, corporal and 34 men in the
fight, and of these Serg. A. C. Hollingsworth and Pri¬
vates Lewis Barker, James B. Higgins and James E.
Holmes were killed, C. H. Witcher, W. M. Elder, J. W.
Sewell and J. H. Day were wounded, and J. M. L.
Jones, H. C. Jones and J. R. Cox were captured.

During the 2 2d and 23d of November, 1861, there was a
heavy bombardment of the Confederate forts and bat¬
teries by Fort Pickens, assisted by the warships Niagara
under Flag-Officer McKean, and the Richmond under
Captain Ellison. Colonel Villepigue with his “Georgia
and Mississippi regiment,’’ the First Georgia battalion,
occupied Fort McRee. The Federal steamers taking
position as close as possible reinforced the heavy guns of
Pickens. General Bragg reported that this would rank
with the heaviest bombardment then known in the
world’s history. The houses in Pensacola, ten miles off,
trembled from the concussions, and immense quantities
of dead fish floated to the surface in the bay and lagoon.
Fort McRee was assailed by the broadsides of the two
Federal vessels throughout the 2 2d, which, on account of
the structure of the fort, the inmates were unable to
return. “Assailed at the same time from the south by
Fort Pickens and its outer batteries, the devoted garrison
of this confined work seemed to be destined to destruc¬
tion. Three times was the woodwork of the fort on fire,

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

81

threatening to expel its occupants, and as often extin¬
guished. The magazines were laid bare to the enemy’s
shells, which constantly exploded about them, and a
wooden building to the windward, on the outside of the
fort, taking fire, showers of live cinders were constantly
driven through the broken doors of one magazine, threat¬
ening destruction to the whole garrison.” Throughout
their stay at Pensacola the Georgians won the favorable
attention of Bragg, the general commanding, and when
he was about to be transferred to another field, he asked
that the Fifth Georgia might be one of the regiments to
accompany him, and that Col. J. K. Jackson be promoted
to brigade command. In February, 1862, the Fifth was
sent to Knoxville, and in the following May, Pensacola
and its defenses were abandoned by the Confederates.
Capt. I. P. Girardey’s battery (the Washington artillery
of Augusta) and the Thirty-sixth Georgia regiment,
formerly Villepigue’s First Georgia battalion, also
accompanied General Bragg.

Ga 11

CHAPTER IV.

EVENTS OF 1862— NAVAL OPERATIONS BELOW SAVAN¬
NAH — ORGANIZATION FOR DEFENSE — LEE SUC¬
CEEDED BY PEMBERTON — THE STATE TROOPS —
FALL OF FORT PULASKI — HUNTER’S ORDERS —
SKIRMISH ON WHITEMARSH ISLAND.

THE year 1862 opened with considerable activity
along the coast of South Carolina and Georgia.
On January 26th an expedition started from Hil¬
ton Head, comprising 2,400 infantry under command of
Gen. Horatio G. Wright, in transports convoyed by the
gunboats Ottawa, Seneca, Isaac Smith, Potemska, Ellen
and Western World, under Capt. Charles H. Davis, and
two armed launches with their crews from the frigate
Wabash, under Capt. C. P. R. Rodgers. The expedition
anchored in Warsaw sound, and on the 27th a reconnois-
sance was made of Wilmington narrows up to the
obstructions of sunken hulk and piling. A similar recon-
noissance reached the obstruction at Wall’s cut, north of
the Savannah. On the 28th four months’ provisions and
supplies of ammunition were sent down to Fort Pulaski
under protection of Commodore Tattnall and his fleet. As
the vessels neared the fort they were fired upon by the
Federal gunboats north of the river under Rodgers, and
by those south under Davis, and the strange spectacle
was presented of a naval engagement in which the con¬
testants were separated by land. The distance between
the two Federal squadrons was about three miles. Tatt¬
nall sent on the transports in charge of the Sampson,
while he turned back with the Savannah and Resolute,
expecting the Federal boats would come out in the river
to cut him off. ' As he returned, a heavy fire was opened

82

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

83

on him, to which he replied with vigor. The Federal
shots went wild and neither of the boats and none of the
men were hurt. As the Sampson and her two unarmored
companions came back up the river, the enemy was able
to get a better range and several rifled shells were sent
through her, hurting no one, however, and doing no
serious damage.

Immense crowds gathered upon the docks at Savannah
during this naval affair, and the boats were vociferously
welcomed as they returned from their adventurous mis¬
sion. General Lee at once reported that, “If the enemy
succeed in removing the obstacles in Wall’s cut and
Wilmington narrows, there is nothing to prevent their
reaching the Savannah river, and we have nothing afloat
that can contend against them. The communication
between Savannah and Fort Pulaski will then be cut off. ’’
He added, “To-day I have caused to be sunk in Wil¬
mington narrows the floating dock of the city. I hope
this passage at least will be effectually obstructed. ’ ’
Since early in December the Forty-sixth New York regi¬
ment had been quietly at work landing ordnance and
implements and constructing batteries along the north
side of Tybee. Later the Federal engineering force
was considerably increased, and put under command of
Gen. A. H. Terry. The work of constructing the earth¬
works was done by the Federals at night and with great
caution. “The positions selected for the five advanced
batteries,’’ General Gillmore has written, “were arti¬
ficially screened from the view of the fort by almost
imperceptible changes, made little by little each night,
in the condition and distribution of the brushwood and
bushes in front of them.’’ As an outpost the Federals
put a hulk in Warsaw sound, which also obstructed the
passage, and stationed a force upon it, from which
detachments were sent out on scouting expeditions.

Another Federal force, operating from Daufuskie island
on the South Carolina side, removed the obstructions

84

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

from Wall’s cut, and with infinite caution and the most
exhausting labor, planted batteries on platforms upon the
swampy Bird island, and at Venus point on Jones island.
One of Tattnall’s boats, the steamer Ida, running past on
February 13th, was fired upon by this battery, but not
injured, and on the following day three of the Confed¬
erate boats paid their respects to the battery. By the
first of April, 1862, the Federals had eleven batteries con¬
structed, mounting 36 heavy mortars and cannon, mainly
10-inch columbiads and Parrott rifles.

Meanwhile General Lee with his headquarters at Coos-
awhatchie, and later at Savannah, was making efforts
to obtain reinforcements of ordnance and men for the
threatened region of the coast. No guns could be
obtained from Pensacola, and but five 8-inch columbiads
and one 24-pounder could be sent from Richmond. In
order to concentrate his resources for defense, General
Lee authorized General Mercer, in command at Bruns¬
wick, to remove the batteries from St. Simon’s and
Jekyl islands, if he considered those positions difficult to
maintain, and forward the heavy guns to Savannah. It
appeared that there were now no inhabitants at Bruns¬
wick, and the planters on the island had removed their
property to the interior. On February 16th General
Mercer reported that he had moved the guns and was
shipping them to Savannah and Fernandina. The
Fourth Georgia battalion was then stationed at Bruns¬
wick, as was also Col. Cary W. Styles’ command, the
Twenty-sixth regiment, but both were at once withdrawn.

General Mercer also urged that he be given orders to
burn the town of Brunswick, for the “moral effect it
would produce upon the enemy, as evidencing our deter¬
mination to continue the present contest with unconquer¬
able determination and at every sacrifice. ’ ’

At this critical moment, while the chief seaport of the
State was threatened by the enemy, the enlistment of
troops for home service apparently embarrassed the

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

85

Confederate officers in charge of the coast defenses. On
the 6th of February General Lee wrote to Secretary
Benjamin that “the replacing the troops in the Confed¬
erate service in this State is a matter of serious consider¬
ation. The period of service of several companies serv¬
ing the batteries for the defense of the city of Savannah
is about to expire. One that was mustered out of the
service a few days since at Fort Pulaski declines to
re-enter the service, and it is supposed that others will
be equally averse. The loss of these companies at this
time will be a serious injury to the defense of the city,
as artillerists cannot be made on the eve of battle.” The
fear of invasion had become so great that the people of
Georgia were at the time unwilling to send troops out of
the State. Lee asked that he be assigned another gen¬
eral officer to take charge of troops guarding the
approaches of Savannah from the Ogeechee. Governor
Brown expressed confidence in Lee and heartily co-oper¬
ated with him. He declared that the attack on Savannah
must be repelled at any cost, and intimated that he
would rather see the city burned than surrendered. He
directed General Jackson to call out such of the militia
force of Savannah as he could arm for imperative service,
in addition to the State troops already in the field. Con¬
siderable apprehension for the safety of Augusta in the
contingency of the capture of Savannah was felt, and
General Lee authorized the obstruction of the river below
Augusta, and the erection of a battery to protect the
works.

On February 17th Col. Charles H. Olmstead, of the
First volunteer regiment of Georgia, commanding at
Fort Pulaski, was notified by General Lee that the posi¬
tion taken in his rear by the enemy would require him to
protect himself in that direction. “As far as possible,”
said Lee, “your safety will be anxiously cared for, and
for the present your communication with the city will
have to be by light boats over the marsh and through

86

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY, .

Wilmington narrows to Causton’s bluffs, or by any other
mode by which you can better accomplish it. ” It was a
feature of the siege of Pulaski that the Federals were
never able wholly to isolate the fort from commun¬
ication by some of the marshy channels with the city.

On February 18th, following the disaster at Fort Don-
elson, General Lee was ordered by the war department
to withdraw all forces from the islands in his department
to the mainland, taking proper measures to save the
artillery and munitions of war. About March ist the
works on Cumberland and Amelia island were abandoned,
and Captain Blain’s company was ordered to Savannah.

The military situation had now become very grave
through the Federal successes in Kentucky and Tennes¬
see. An intimation of what might be expected from the
meeting in battle of the largely superior forces of the
enemy and the overconfident soldiers of the Confeder¬
acy, had been furnished by the affair at Fishing creek,
where General Zollicoffer was killed and the army of Crit¬
tenden practically annihilated. This was followed by a
levy of troops, made February 2d, in which Georgia was
called upon for twelve regiments. Soon afterward came
the news of the surrender of Forts Henry and Donelson
and the occupation of Nashville. In view of these condi¬
tions President Davis telegraphed General Lee at Savan¬
nah, March 2d, “If circumstances will, in your judgment,
warrant your leaving, I wish to see you here with the
least delay. ’ ’ On reaching Richmond, Lee was appointed
military adviser of the president, and on March 14th,
Maj.-Gen. John C. Pemberton, an officer of the old army,
of fine reputation as an engineer, was appointed to the
command of the department of South Carolina and
Georgia. Meanwhile General Lawton had pressed for¬
ward the work of fortification. Fort Jackson was
strengthened, shore batteries were located near it, and
the battery at Thunderbolt was protected and reinforced.
Toward the last of March scouting parties from the

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

87

opposing forces encountered each other on Whitemarsh
and Wilmington islands. Gen. A. R. Lawton on April
5th officially reported: “On two successive nights, March
30th and 31st, scouting parties were sent to Whitemarsh
and Wilmington islands from the Thirteenth Georgia
regiment, Col. Marcellus Douglass, which were entirely
successful, killing one and capturing eighteen of the
enemy, two of whom have since died. They also cap¬
tured a barge with a six-pounder. We had but one man
wounded, and it is feared that he will not recover. The
scouting party was under the immediate command of
Captain [J. Terrell] Crawford, Thirteenth Georgia regi¬
ment, who conducted it with skill and gallantry, and all
the officers and men under his command exhibited the
most commendable courage and enterprise. ’ ’

In a communication to the adjutant-general of the
Confederate States from General Pemberton on April
9th, the latter says that he addressed an inquiry to
Adjt. -Gen. H. C. Wayne, of Georgia, asking for an
expression of the governor’s views in regard to the con¬
tinuance of the State forces, and in reply received a copy
of the governor’s speech to the State troops at Savannah
March 15th, to which General Wayne added, that “if they,
do not re-volunteer within the week, as set forth in his
speech, he will replace them by an equivalent force of
new voltfnteers. ’ ’ Governor Brown in a subsequent
interview stated that not more than 3,500 of the State
troops now in service could be counted upon at any one
time within the next two or three months for the defense
of Savannah. “My own opinion is,” said General Pem¬
berton, “after a great deal of inquiry, that even this
number is an overestimate. I am convinced that there is
a general indisposition to re-enter the State service,
although the governor thinks differently.” There had
been, however, no delay in supplying every regiment
which Georgia had been asked to contribute to the Con¬
federate service. U nder the last call for twelve regiments,

88

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

eighteen had been furnished. Brig. -Gen. W. D. Smith
was assigned to duty in the military district of Georgia,
with orders to report to Gen. A. R. Lawton, April ioth.

The United States land forces participating in the
reduction of Fort Pulaski were under Maj.-Gen. David
Hunter and Brigadier-Generals Benham, Viele and Gill-
more. Within the walls of Fort Pulaski, under the com¬
mand of Col. Charles H. Olmstead, were a little over 400
men of the Savannah regiment, or First regiment of
Georgia, the companies being the Montgomery Guard,
Capt. L. J. Gilmartin; German Volunteers, Capt. John H.
Steigen; Oglethorpe Light Infantry, Capt. T. W. Sims;
Wise Guard, Capt. M. J. McMullen; Washington Volun¬
teers, Capt. John McMahon. The armament of the fort
was five 10-inch and nine 8-inch columbiads, three 42-
pounders, three 10-inch mortars, one 12 -inch mortar, one
24-pounder and two 12-pounder howitzers, twenty 32-
pounders and two 4^-inch Blakely rifled guns. The
fight went against the fort from the first, but there was
great faith in the strength of the works. Gen. David
Hunter, commanding the Federal department of the
South, demanded the surrender of the garrison of Colonel
Olmstead, the flag being sent under Lieut. James H.
Wilson. Colonel Olmstead replied briefly, declining to
surrender, and stating that he was there “to defend the
fort, not to surrender it.” The first shell was fired at
8:15 on the morning of April 10, 1862, and by 9:30 all the
beleaguering batteries were in operation. Colonel Olm¬
stead replied vigorously, but was at a disadvantage at the
start on account of knowing the position of but two of
the eleven Federal batteries. An attack by the Federal
fleet was anticipated, but it took no part in the bombard¬
ment. The Confederate soldiers and citizens in Savan¬
nah and the adjacent fortifications listened with anxiety
throughout the day to the continuous roar of the guns.
The ten hours’ bombardment on the first day caused no
material damage, but during that night the garrison was

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

89

terribly harassed by the enemy’s mortar shells which
were dropped into the fort, one every five minutes. A
fiercer attack began at daybreak of the second day,
especially upon the southeast angle, where the fire of the
rifled cannon was concentrated to breach the walls of the
fort. As General Hunter reported: “The result of this
bombardment must cause, I am convinced, a change in
the construction of fortifications as radical as that fore¬
shadowed in naval architecture by the conflict between
the Monitor and Merrimac. No works of stone or brick
can resist the impact of rifled artillery of heavy caliber.”
The solid walls of the old fort built for war of another
sort crumbled like the Congress and the Cumberland under
the shot of the Virginia. “Two casemates were opened
to an aggregate width of thirty feet, the scarp wall was
battered down in front of three casemate piers, and the
adjacent wall on each side was so badly shattered that a
few hours’ firing would have doubled the width of prac¬
ticable breach, a ramp of debris reaching to the foot of
the counterscarp. In repairing the work subsequently,
ioo linear feet of wall had to be rebuilt. ”

Corporal Law of the Phoenix Riflemen, stationed at
Thunderbolt, had taken a signal man to the fort on the
night of the ioth, and leaving after the flag was lowered,
carried the news to Savannah. “At the close of the
fight all the parapet guns were dismounted except three,
two io-inch columbiads, known as “Beauregard” and
“Jeff Davis” (but one of which bore on the island), and
a rifle cannon. Every casemate gun in the southeast sec¬
tion of the fort, from No. 7 to No. 13, including all that
could be brought to bear upon the enemy’s batteries
except one, was dismounted, and the casemate walls
breached in almost every instance to the top of the arch,
say between five and six feet in width. The moat out¬
side was so filled with brick and mortar that one could
have passed over dry shod. The officers’ quarters were
torn to pieces, the bomb-proof timbers scattered in every
Ga 12

90

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

direction over the yard, and the gates to the entrance
knocked off. The parapet walls on the Tybee side were
all gone, in many places down to the level of the earth
on the casemates. The protection to the magazine in
the northwest angle of the fort had all been shot away ;
the entire corner of the magazine next to the passageway
was shot off, and the powder exposed, while three shots
had actually penetrated the chamber. Such was the con¬
dition of affairs when Colonel Olmstead called a council
of officers in a casemate ; and without a dissenting voice
they acquiesced in the necessity of a capitulation, in
order to save the garrison from utter destruction by an
explosion, which was momentarily threatened. Accord¬
ingly, at 2 o’clock p. m. the men were called from the
guns and the flag was lowered.

Early in the day Colonel Olmstead had no doubt of his
ability to silence every battery on Tybee island, and to
this end he determined that when night came and the
enemy’s fire slackened, he would change the position of
all his heavy guns, so as to bring them to bear on the
enemy. As the day progressed, however, his situation
became desperate. Every man did his duty with alac¬
rity, and there being few guns that bore on the enemy,
there was a continued contest as to who should man
them. When volunteers were called for to perform any
laborious duty, there was a rush of men from every com¬
pany in the fort. Among the last guns fired were those
on the parapet, and the men stood there, exposed to a
storm of iron hail, to the last. ’ ’ When the flag was shot
down on the second day, Lieut. Christopher Hussey, of the
Montgomery Guards, and Private John Latham, of the
Washington Volunteers, leaped upon the exposed parapet
and disentangled the flag and remounted it at the north¬
eastern angle on a temporary staff.

The terms of capitulation were arranged by Colonel
Olmstead and General Gillmore, and the swords of the
officers were received by Maj. Charles G. Halpine, of

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

91

literary fame as “Miles O’Reilly.’’ The terms of capit¬
ulation provided that the sick and wounded should be
sent under a flag of truce to the Confederate lines, but
this General Hunter afterward declined to ratify, thus
cruelly furnishing another instance of the inhumanity of
the Federal treatment of prisoners of war, and the
whole garrison was sent as prisoners to the forts in
New York harbor. The Federals contented themselves
with occupying the fort, thereby closing the port to com¬
merce.

During these operations on the Georgia coast, Phillips’
Georgia legion had been on duty in Gen. T. F. Drayton’s
district, next north of Savannah, and was in action
with the enemy on March 20th and 22d near Bluffton,
S. C.

On April 13th Maj.-Gen. David Hunter, in command
of the “department of the South,’’ issued the following
general order No. 7 :

All persons of color lately held to involuntary service
by enemies of the United States in Fort Pulaski and on
Cockspur island, Georgia, are hereby confiscated and
declared free, in conformity with law, and shall hereafter
receive the fruits of their own labor. Such of said per¬
sons of color as are able-bodied and may be required
shall be employed in the quartermaster’s department at
the rates heretofore established by Brig. -Gen. T. W.
Sherman.

This conduct of Hunter accorded with his reputation
elsewhere. His brutality was exceeded only by Butler.
The above order was followed May 9th by the following:

The three States of Georgia, Florida and South Caro¬
lina, comprising the military department of the South,
having deliberately declared themselves no longer under
the protection of the United States of America, and hav¬
ing taken up arms against said United States, it became
a military necessity to declare martial law. This was
accordingly done on the 25th day of April, 1862. Slav¬
ery and martial law in a free country are altogether
incompatible ; the persons in these three States, Georgia,

92 CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

Florida and South Carolina, heretofore held as slaves, are
therefore declared forever free.

The foolish order was annulled by President Lincoln,
who was wise enough to rebuke the act. Another sav¬
age performance of Hunter’s was the organization of a
negro regiment, the first in the United States service.
Hunter was properly declared an outlaw by the Confed¬
erate government, and it was decreed that if captured he
should be held in close confinement for trial for crimes
committed.

It soon became evident that the fall of Fort Pulaski did
not involve the capture of Savannah by the enemy. The
Confederate force in Georgia was strong enough to resist
an advance by any force of Federals then in that quarter.

On April 16th a reconnoissance of Whitemarsh island
was made by seven companies of the Eighth Michigan
infantry, Col. W. M. Fenton, escorting the topographical
engineer, Lieutenant Wilson. This force encountered
several companies of the Thirteenth Georgia regiment,
detachment meeting detachment, and some spirited skir¬
mishing was the result. Captains Crawford and McCallay
made a vigorous attack upon one party and pursued it,
but the main body of the Michigan men in turn gave the
Georgians a lively chase, until Colonel Douglass happened
up with reinforcements and drove them back. The
Thirteenth lost 4 killed and 15 wounded. Garland
Upshaw, a young private, who was considered the best
scout in the regiment, in assisting to carry a wounded
comrade from the field had four bullet-holes made in his
clothing. Private Pilkington, shot down as he was about
to fire, handed his gun to the captain and requested him
to discharge it at the enemy. Captain Crawford and
men were nearly surrounded, but fought bravely until
their ammunition was exhausted. The boys of the
Thirteenth, less than 100 strong, had held at bay a much
larger force of the enemy for nearly an hour, and the
affair increased their experience and prepared them for

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

93

further fighting with Lee in Virginia. Colonel Fenton
reported his loss at io killed and 35 wounded, and his
total strength at 300.

The people in Georgia began to feel less alarm for the
safety of their chief seaport. This was evinced by an
article in the Savannah Republican of April 21st, noting
the quiet which prevailed in military matters :

On the banks of the Savannah all seems quiet, too. The
enemy, few in numbers, are still lying in our lower river,
and, so far as seen, no reinforcements have reached
them. They have not a force equal to an attack on the
city, and its augmentation would seem inconsistent with
the pressing demands from other points at the present
time. McClellan will need every man he can draw into
the field for his operations in the peninsula, and the
Federal exigencies out west are equally pressing for all
the troops at their command. Meanwhile we are not
idle. The military authorities here are using all means
in their power to strengthen our defenses and make
them impregnable. Come in what numbers he may, the
enemy will have his hands full in his march upon
Savannah.

The “Federal exigencies out west’’ meant the state of
affairs immediately following the battle of Shiloh, which,
though indecisive, had effectually checked for awhile
the onward march of the Union armies, who were moving
with far more caution than they had exhibited before that
memorable conflict. Indeed, an indecision seized upon
them in the West from which they did not recover for
months.

CHAPTER V.

BATTLE OF SHILOH— ANDREWS’ RAID— THE THIRD
INFANTRY AT SOUTH MILLS— THE CONSCRIPT ACT
AND STATE TROOPS— GEORGIANS UNDER BRAGG
AND KIRBY SMITH— NAVAL AFFAIRS— DEPREDA¬
TIONS IN THE COAST REGION— WAR LEGISLATION
—CHICKASAW BAYOU AND MURFREESBORO.

GEORGIA appears with credit at the famous battle
of Shiloh April 6 and 7, 1862, by two commands,
the Washington Light Artillery, Capt. Isadore P.
Girardey, and the Mountain Dragoons, Capt. I. W. Avery;
and among the general officers, by Maj.-Gen. William J.
Hardee, commander of the Third corps, and Brig. -Gen. J.
K. Jackson of Withers’ division. Girardey’s battery, at¬
tached to Jackson’s brigade, took a conspicuous part in
the struggle of both days, and suffered severe loss. In
the Sunday fight, Lieut. J. J. Jacobus fell mortally
wounded while gallantly commanding his section, and
Lieut. C. Spaeth was seriously hurt. Gunner A. Roesel
was killed, and Privates John Halbert, J. T. Nethercutt,
Thomas J. Murphy and S. A. Ingalls were wounded.
Coporal Hughes captured a banner, and Private Hill a
marker’s flag. Corp. J. VanDohlanwas commended for
conspicuous gallantry. The battle did not afford an equal
opportunity for distinction in action to Avery’s troop, but
it rendered efficient and arduous service as the advance
guard of Hindman’s division in the march to the field,
and during the terrible storm of the night preceding the
battle it was on advanced picket duty. It was under
heavy fire at times on both days of the conflict, but was
not actively engaged.

Subsequent to the battle of Shiloh, the Fifth Georgia

94

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

95

infantry, Gen. J. K. Jackson’s old regiment, was attached
to his brigade, which was otherwise composed of Alabama
regiments. The Thirty-sixth, Thirty-ninth and Forty-
third were attached to the command of Gen. Danville Lead-
better in east Tennessee, and brought to Chattanooga
when that point was threatened. Toward the latter part
of April, 450 men of these Georgia regiments under Lead-
better opposed the advance of the Federals at Bridge¬
port. The Forty-first, in the brigade of S. B. Maxey,
was at Corinth during the siege by Halleck.

The proximity of the Federal forces to the northern
part of the State in the spring of 1862, was made manifest
by the famous exploit of the “Andrews raiders. ” This
expedition was set on foot early in April at the suggestion
of James J. Andrews, who had been for some time in the
service of General Buell as a spy.

Twenty-four men were detailed from Ohio regiments
for Andrews’ expedition, the place of one of whom was
taken by a civilian, William Campbell. The men were
informed by Andrews at the outset simply that they were
wanted for secret and very dangerous service, without
being fully informed as to its nature. They were re¬
quired, however, to exchange their uniforms for ordinary
civilian dress, and were armed with revolvers only. They
traveled in parties of three or four by rail from Chat¬
tanooga to Marietta. When questioned, they were in¬
structed to profess themselves Kentuckians going to join
the Southern army. Thus Andrews and his men sub¬
jected themselves to being treated as spies. The object
of the foolhardy scheme was to break up railroad com¬
munication south of Chattanooga, so that Buell might
capture that point from the west and north. Andrews
with nineteen of the men reached the rendezvous in time.
Buying their tickets to various points as regular passen¬
gers, they boarded the northward bound mail train. At Big
Shanty, now known as Kenesaw, while the train stopped
for breakfast, Andrews and his men hurried forward and

96

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

uncoupled a section of the train, consisting of three empty
box cars connected with the engine, which they at once
managed by two experienced men detailed for that pur¬
pose. The engine pulled off rapidly and was gone before
the sentinels standing near suspected the movement.
William A. Fuller, conductor of the train, and Anthony
Murphy, foreman of the Atlanta machine shops, who
happened to be on the train, at once comprehended that
the section had been stolen, and starting on foot, ran
until they found a handcar, with which they pushed for¬
ward more rapidly. After a chase of many vicissitudes,
the pursuing Confederates secured an engine, with which
they pressed Andrews so closely that he ordered his party
to abandon the road and take to the woods, but all of
them were captured in a few days. Andrews and seven
men who had volunteered for the expedition with
knowledge of its character were tried as spies, convicted
on evidence and ordered to be executed. The others who
had become implicated through the orders of their superior
officers were held in confinement at Atlanta. Finally
some escaped and others were exchanged.

Some very absurd conjectures as to what would have
been the result of the success of Andrews’ scheme were
indulged in by sensational writers on both sides, but a
Federal officer has recorded the opinion that “if the raid¬
ers had succeeded in destroying every bridge on their pro¬
posed route, it would have produced no important effect
upon Mitchel’s military operations, and that he would
not have taken, certainly would not have held, Chatta¬
nooga. . . . Hence, ’’ concludes the officer, “it is my opin¬
ion that Mitchel’s bridge burners took desperate chances
to accomplish objects of no substantial advantage.”

In the same month of April, the Third Georgia in¬
fantry, Col. A. R. Wright, was distinguished in the fight
at South Mills, N. C., on the 19th. The regiment had
been withdrawn from Roanoke island in time to escape
inevitable capture, and now met the Federals as they

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

97

advanced northward along the Pasquotank river. With
three companies of his regiment and a battery, Wright
selected an advantageous position, and finding a deep,
wide ditch in his front, adopted the novel expedient of
filling it with fence rails and burning them to make the
ditch impassable, or at least not available as an intrench-
ment. Before the enemy arrived Wright was reinforced
by seven companies, and he made a gallant fight, inspir¬
ing his men by his personal heroism. Though he finally
withdrew from the field, he so effectually crippled the
enemy that the latter also abandoned his advance and
retreated to his boats. The numbers engaged of the
enemy were far in excess of those under command of the
Georgia colonel, and there afterward arose an interest¬
ing dispute among the Federal commanders as to who was
most responsible for the lively scramble to the rear.

This period in the history of the Confederacy, signal¬
ized by almost unalleviated disaster, both inland and on
the coast, is also memorable as the date when the con¬
scription act was put in effect, in accordance with the rec¬
ommendation of President Davis. The constitutionality
of this act was discussed in a correspondence between
Governor Brown and President Davis, including seven
letters, in which the measure was defended by the presi¬
dent and assailed by the governor. In his second letter
President Davis said to Governor Brown :

I take great pleasure in recognizing that the history of
the past year affords the amplest justification for your
assertion that if the question had been whether the con¬
scription law was necessary to raise men in Georgia, the
answer must have been in the negative. Your noble
State has promptly responded to every call that it has
been my duty to make on her ; and to you personally, as
her executive, I acknowledge my indebtedness for the
prompt, cordial and effective co-operation you have
afforded me in the effort to defend our common country
against the common enemy.

In December, 1861, the general assembly had author-

Ga 13

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

ized and instructed the governor to tender to the Confed¬
erate government the volunteer forces called into service
under the law of i860, in companies, battalions, regi¬
ments, brigades or divisions, as might be acceptable to
the Confederate war department, provided the tender
was made before the 15 th of January following, and should
be consented to by the troops. The question of transfer
was submitted to the troops and decided in the negative
almost unanimously. This was previous to the conscript
act. When that became a law, Governor Brown imme¬
diately tendered the State army to Brigadier-General
Lawton, commanding the military district of Georgia,
Maj.-Gen. Henry R. Jackson, commander of the State
army, having retired in order to prevent any embarrass¬
ment. Both the governor and General Jackson in ad¬
dresses to the troops expressed their appreciation of the
high character of this distinctively Georgian organization,
and the governor in his message in the following Novem¬
ber, spoke in the following terms of the excellent spirit,
discipline and patriotism prevailing among this body :

They had performed without a murmur, an almost
incredible amount of labor in erecting fortifications and
field works necessary to the protection of the city, and
had made their position so strong as to deter the enemy,
with a force of vastly superior numbers, from making an
attack. While they regretted that an opportunity did not
offer to show their courage and efficiency upon the battle¬
field, they stood, like a bulwark of stout hearts and strong
arms, between the city and the enemy, and by their chiv¬
alrous bearing and energetic preparation, in connection
with the smaller number of Confederate troops near, saved
the city from attack and capture, without bloodshed and
carnage.

In the campaign under Bragg through Kentucky and
Tennessee, undertaken to protect Chattanooga and At¬
lanta by carrying the war into the enemy’s country, or
in that direction, some of the Georgia troops acted a gal¬
lant and conspicuous part. The First regiment of partisan
rangers, Col. A. A. Hunt, participated in the first Ken-

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

99

tucky raid of that famous cavalry leader, John H. Mor¬
gan, then colonel of the Second Kentucky cavalry. At
Tompkinsville, on the night of July 8th, a considerable
body of the enemy’s cavalry was charged and stampeded;
but Colonel Hunt, while leading gallantly in the assault,
received a severe wound in the leg, which prevented his
going on with the command. Morgan and his men pushed
on to Georgetown, and on the 17th captured Cynthiana,
with 420 prisoners. The Georgia troopers, under com¬
mand of Lieut. -Col. F. M. Nix, acted a prominent part in
this brilliant affair; Captain Jones, of Company A, and
Maj. Samuel J. Winn being especially distinguished
among the officers.

At the same time the First and Second Georgia cavalry
regiments were earning their spurs with Forrest in Ten¬
nessee. Part of the First, under Col. J. J. Morrison, and
the Second, under Col. W. J. Lawton, with Colonel Whar¬
ton’s Texas rangers, formed the main part of the cavalry
brigade of about 1,400, with which Forrest attacked an
equal force at Murfreesboro on July 13th and captured
the entire Federal command. To Colonel Morrison,
with a portion of his regiment, was given the duty of
storming the courthouse, and after two or three hours of
brisk fighting he compelled its surrender. Lieut. -Col.
Arthur Hood, with a portion of the First, stormed the
jail with equal success. Colonel Lawton, with the Second
regiment and the Tennessee and Kentucky companies,
assailed the second camp of the enemy. Said Forrest:

The Georgians, under Colonel Dunlop and Major
Harper, made a gallant charge almost to the mouth
of the cannon. After fighting them in front two or three
hours I took immediate command of this force and charged
the rear of the enemy into their camps and burned their
camps and stores, demoralizing their force and weakening
their strength.

In the following month Colonel Morrison was sent with
his troops into Kentucky to occupy Mount Vernon, and
at Big Hill he defeated an attack of Federal cavalry,

100

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

August 23d. At Bridgeport, Ala., August 27th, the
Jackson artillery, under Capt. G. A. Dure, did brilliant
work, Lieutenant Holtzclaw, as well as the captain, win¬
ning the commendatory notice of General Maxey, the
officer in command. The Third Georgia cavalry, Col.
Martin J. Crawford, accompanied Gen. Joseph Wheeler
in Bragg’s Kentucky campaign, and fought gallantly and
suffered severely at Munfordville ; but at New Haven,
Ky. , September 29th, Colonel Crawford and about 250 of
his command were surprised and captured by a detach¬
ment of Col. E. M. McCook’s cavalry brigade.

On August 10, 1862, Gen. E. Kirby Smith ordered Col.
Archibald Gracie, of the Forty-third Alabama, to take a
force of infantry and march against a band of east Ten¬
nessee Unionists, who had assembled under Col. William
Clift near Huntsville, Scott county. He was to have the
co-operation of 300 cavalry, under Capt. T. M. Nelson,
of Georgia. Gracie’s force included some companies that
had belonged to Ramsey’s First Georgia. After the
expiration of the twelve months for which that regiment
had enlisted, it had been mustered out at Augusta.
Four of the companies re-enlisted and formed the Twelfth
Georgia battalion under Maj. H. D. Capers. On the way
to Tennessee most of the horses were killed in a railroad
accident. Only one company, the Newnan artillery,
under Capt. G. M. Hanvey, was supplied with cannon,
and this went into Kentucky with Heth’s division. The
other three, serving as infantry, marched with Gracie to
Scott county. On August 13th, Gracie’s command
stormed and captured Fort Clift, scattering the Tennes¬
see Unionists in every direction. They had fired so wildly
that no Confederates were seriously hurt. The scattering
of this force gave unmolested passage for the wagon
trains of Heth’s division through Big Creek gap into Ken¬
tucky. The three companies of the Twelfth Georgia bat¬
talion were left in camp at Jacksboro, Tenn., to assist in
picketing Big Creek gap.

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

101

The following Georgia commands went into Kentucky
in Heth’s division: Smith’s legion, Fifty-fifth Georgia
and Newnan artillery (from the Twelfth battalion). In
Stevenson’s division, which recaptured Cumberland gap
and then advanced into Kentucky, were the Thirty-fourth,
Thirty-sixth, Thirty-ninth, Fortieth, Forty-second, Fifty-
second and Fifty-seventh Georgia regiments, the Third
and Ninth Georgia battalions, and the Cherokee artillery.
In McCown’s division was the Forty-third Georgia. The
foregoing troops were all in Gen. Kirby Smith’s army.
In Polk’s wing of Bragg’s army in Kentucky there were
other Georgia commands. In Withers’ division the Fifth
Georgia shared in what was to the infantry the bloodless
victory at Munfordville, Ky. ; while at Perryville the
Forty-first Georgia was in Cheatham’s division in the
thickest of the fight, its gallant colonel, Charles A. Mc¬
Daniel, being mortally wounded, and Maj. John Knight
leading it through the rest of the battle. The regiment
lost in this engagement 6 color-bearers, 2 killed and 4
wounded. General Maney, commanding the brigade of
four Tennessee regiments and the Forty-first Georgia,
said in his report: “The Southern army lost neither a
truer soldier nor more amiable and admirable a gentle¬
man on that field (Perryville) than Col. Charles A. Mc¬
Daniel. ... It would be a profound gratification to me
to be allowed the privilege of inscribing the name of
Colonel McDaniel on one of the guns captured by my
brigade at the battle of Murfreesboro, the gun to be pre¬
sented to some Georgia battery. ’ ’ The Southern Rights
battery, from Perry, as well as the Southern Rights
Guards (Company C) of Ramsey’s First Georgia, was also
at the battle of Perryville.

At Fort Pulaski throughout the summer, Brig. -Gen.
A. H. Terry was in command, with a garrison consisting of
the Forty-eighth New York, Col. W. B. Barton; a com¬
pany of Rhode Island artillery, and a detachment of en¬
gineers. General Hunter had ordered in May that in

102

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

consequence of an alleged violation of flag of truce by a
Confederate command, all parties coming to his lines on
any pretense whatever should be held. On August ioth
the Confederate steamer General Lee came down from
Savannah under flag of truce, carrying a lady and her
son who desired to go north. The Lee was ordered to
anchor, and upon her failure to do so was fired upon by
Fort Pulaski, but without effect. A small armed steamer
was sent after her, and she was brought back to the fort.
General Hunter ordered from Hilton Head, “Put the
officers and crew of the rebel steamer in close confine¬
ment in the fort. ’ ’ On the following day the boat and
crew were sent back to Savannah, with a message from
Hunter that the presence of three officers on the Lee
was a suspicious circumstance, and that hereafter only
one officer should accompany a flag of truce.

In July, 1862, the armed cruiser Nashville ran the block¬
ade into Savannah with a cargo of arms. This vessel
was the first commissioned armed cruiser of the Confed¬
erate States, and had been purchased with the original
intention of using her to convey abroad the commission¬
ers, Mason and Slidell. After she entered the river in
the summer of 1862, the rigor of the blockade kept her
useless until her destruction, early in 1863. In August the
steamer Emma, which had several times run the block¬
ade, carrying cotton to Nassau, while trying to make the
outward passage on a dark and stormy night, ran aground
off the southeast extremity of Jones island. The crew
got off in boats and made their escape up the river to
Savannah, though pursued for some distance by boats
from Fort Pulaski. Before leaving the vessel the crew
set her on fire, and she was totally consumed. It was
thought by the Federals that her intention was to go to
sea by a route which was known to be practicable, namely,
after running under the fire of the fort a short distance,
to enter Wright river, and thence through Wall’s cut and
other narrow channels, or down Mud river and entering:

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY. 10i

Wright river entirely out of range of the fort. If the
Emma had gone her length farther to the right at the
fatal moment, she could have gone to sea without ap¬
proaching nearer than five miles to the battery at martello
tower.

The famous ship Fingal, whose adventures in 1861
have been narrated, having become unavailable as a
cruiser on account of the blockade, was converted into an
ironclad, of the familiar Confederate type, known as the
Atlanta. John A. Tift had charge of the construction.
At the same time the ironclad battery Georgia was con¬
structed, to which the ladies of Savannah made large con¬
tributions. The Fingal, whose length was 204 feet,
breadth of beam 41, and draught 15 feet 9 inches, was
cut down to the main deck, widened amidships, and over¬
laid with an ironplated deck. On this was built an iron¬
clad casemate, like that of the original Virginia. The sides
of this casemate were 15 inches of pine, 3 inches of oak and
4 inches of iron. At the bow was attached a ram and a spar
tc carry a torpedo. Her armament was two 7 -inch Brooke
guns on bow and stern pivots, and two 6-inch Brooke
rifles in broadside, and the larger guns were so arranged
that both the 7 -inch and one of the 6-inch guns could be
worked on either broadside. The Georgia was of a differ¬
ent construction, 250 feet long and 60 feet in beam, with
a casemate 1 2 feet high. Her machinery was defective,
and it was necessary to tow her where needed. She
carried seven guns and was under the command of Lieut.
J. Pembroke Jones.

The Atlanta, under command of Lieut. Charles H.
McBlair, made a trial trip toward Fort Pulaski on July
31st and created much consternation in the Federal fleet.
A Northern newspaper correspondent wrote that unless
some monitor should come to the rescue, “the fair-weather
yachts now reposing on the placid bosom of Port Royal
bay have before them an excellent opportunity of learn¬
ing what it is to be blown out of the water. ’’ But there

104

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

was no direct benefit to be derived from the Atlanta, as
her trial trip showed that her alteration in form and the
projecting overway caused her to steer badly, and that six
or seven knots was the greatest speed to be obtained
from her. Notwithstanding the inaction of the vessel
during the remainder of 1862, the Federals manifested
great apprehension regarding her, and brought several
monitors to the vicinity of Savannah. During the fall of
1862 only a small force was left by the enemy at Fort
Pulaski, the main strength being at Hilton Head. This
disposition made it necessary for the Georgia troops to
occasionally skirmish between Savannah and Port Royal.
Notable among these encounters was one October 2 2d at
Pocotaligo and Coosawhatchie, in which Col. G. P. Har¬
rison was in command of the troops sent from Georgia.
This was a considerable affair and a decisive victory for
the Confederates.

Brig. -Gen. Hugh W. Mercer had succeeded to the com¬
mand of the district of Georgia upon the transfer of Gen¬
eral Lawton to Virginia, and on September 24th General
Beauregard assumed command of the department of
South Carolina and Georgia, to which Florida was soon
added. Gen. Howell Cobb, after the battle of Sharps-
burg, was assigned to command of the middle district of
Florida, with especial reference to the defense of south¬
west Georgia, a region which had been blessed with the
best crops in the State. In the latter part of the year
the State commissioners, James M. Chambers and James
F. Bozeman, sunk obstructions in the Appalachicola to
prevent a river invasion and protect the gunboat Chatta¬
hoochee, then in construction.

In July, 1863, the following organizations were included
in General Mercer’s command, in the district of Georgia:
Eighth battalion, Lieutenant-Colonel Reid; Tenth bat¬
talion, Major Rylander; Twenty-fifth regiment, Col.
C. C. Wilson; Thirtieth regiment, Col. D. J. Bailey;
Thirty-second regiment, Col. G. P. Harrison ; Forty-sev-

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

105

enth regiment, Col. G. W. M. Williams; Fiftieth regi¬
ment, Col. W. R. Manning; Fifty-fourth regiment, Col.
C.H.Way; Fifty-ninth, regiment, Col. Jack Brown; Geor¬
gia Guards, Major Screven; DeKalb Rifles, Captain Hart-
ridge; Second battalion cavalry, Companies D, B, E,
Lieutenant-Colonel Bird ; cavalry south of the Altamaha
(Fourth regiment), Lieutenant-Colonel Clinch; Effing¬
ham Hussars, Captain Strobhar; Harwick Mounted Rifles,
Captain McAllister; Lamar rangers, Captain Brailsford;
Liberty Independent troop, Captain Walthour; McIntosh -
cavalry, Captain Hopkins; Partisan rangers, battalion,
Major Millen; Partisan rangers, Captain Anderson;
Ninth battalion artillery, Major Leyden; Thirteenth
(Phoenix), battalion, Maj. G. A. Gordon; Chestatee light
artillery, Captain Bomar ; Columbus light artillery, Cap¬
tain Croft; Echols light artillery, Captain Tiller; Joe
Thompson artillery, Captain Hanleiter; Martin’s light
artillery, Captain Martin ; Terrell light artillery, Captain
Dawson; Light battery, Company D, Georgia regulars,
Captain Read; Savannah river batteries, Lieut. -Col.
Edward C. Anderson; Fort Jackson, Capt. John W.
Anderson; Irish Jasper Greens, Company B, Captain
O’Connor; Liberty Guards, Captain Hughes; Tattnall
Guards, Captain Davenport.

A negro regiment that had been organized by General
Hunter was called the First South Carolina volunteers
(colored), and in November a company of it was employed
on an expedition up the rivers and lagoons of Georgia
between St. Simon’s and Fernandina. This was led by
Col. O. T. Beard of New York, Rev. Mansfield French,
chaplain, and Charles T. Trowbridge, captain. The
expedition made thirteen different landings, had skir¬
mishes at King’s bay and Spaulding’s, and “destroyed nine
salt works, together with $20,000 worth of horses, salt,
corn, rice, etc., which could not be carried away.’’ Gen.
R. Saxton reported that the negroes fought bravely, and
he recommended that a number of light- draught steamers

Ga 14

106

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

should be sent up the Georgia streams, each carrying ioo
negro soldiers and extra arms, and that the whistle should
be sounded at landings to call in the slaves, who should
be enlisted and armed. The boat would then proceed as
before until, he said, “we should very soon have occupa¬
tion of the whole country. ’ ’ A few days later a similar
expedition was made up the Doboy river, and a sawmill
was raided and the lumber, saws, etc., were carried away.
Col. Thomas Wentworth Higginson, of Boston, com¬
mander of this negro regiment, led it in another expedi¬
tion early in 1863, on board three steamers. On the St.
Mary’s river they were attacked by a daring body of Con¬
federate cavalry. Higginson reported that “though fear¬
ful of our shot and shell, they were so daring against mus¬
ketry, that one rebel sprang from the shore upon the
large boat which was towed at our stern, where he was
shot down by one of my sergeants.’’ Colonel Higginson
was on a collecting expedition, and picked up 250 bars of
railroad iron from St. Simon’s and Jekyll islands, from
abandoned Confederate forts, some “valuable yellow pine
lumber,” rice, resin, cordage, oars, a flock of sheep,
horses, steers, agricultural implements, and “40,000 large¬
sized bricks. ’ ’ The real conductor of the whole expe¬
dition up the St. Mary’s, Colonel Higginson went on
to say, was Corp. Robert Sutton, of Company G, for¬
merly a slave upon the St. Mary’s river. “In every
instance when I followed his advice the predicted re¬
sult followed, and I never departed from it, however
slightly, without finding reason for subsequent regret. ”
Further said the colonel: “No officer in this regiment
now doubts that the key to the successful prosecution of
this war lies in the unlimited employment of black
troops. ” On September 30th areconnoissance was made
by several New York companies up the May river from
Fort Pulaski, which resulted in the destruction of some
valuable salt works at Crowell’s plantation, above Bluff-
ton. Colonel Barton, commanding, reported that he

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY. 107

stopped at the latter place on his return and carried off
a considerable quantity of furniture from the deserted
houses, which he asked permission to retain for the use
of his officers and himself.

These barbarous raids were made for private and public
plunder. To destroy public stores is admissible in war,
but to loot private houses and seize private furniture
were a disgrace to the troops who were guilty of such
outrages, and a still greater disgrace to the officers who
allowed it. But all this was innocent compared to the
atrocity of the effort to arouse the negroes of the black
belt of the State to insurrection against the scanty white
population of that section, especially when every Amer¬
ican of any intelligence remembered the horrors of the
servile insurrection in San Domingo. The conduct of
their enemies during and immediately after the war proves
that the Southern people were not mistaken as to the
ultimate aim of the party that came into control of the
government in i860, even admitting that they made a
mistake in the remedy adopted.

In November, on account of the depredations of Colonel
Higginson’s negro regiment, the governor notified the
legislature that Col. Henry Floyd, commanding Camden
militia, had asked leave to call out his forces for home
defense, and he requested the legislature to decide if he
had authority under the conscript act to make such a call.
A spirited discussion of several days resulted, in which
it appeared that the majority of the body regarded the
conscript law as unconstitutional, but no definite action
was taken. The legislature did, however, authorize the
governor to obstruct the navigable streams and to hire or
impress slaves to perform the necessary labor, and the
governor proposed to General Beauregard that the State
should hire or impress the slaves and put them under the
control of officers detailed by the general, a proposition

108

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

which was accepted. The same plan had been followed
in supplying laborers to General Mercer to finish the
fortifications at Savannah.

The governor’s message in November described the
military work of the year. Of the $5,000,000 appropri¬
ated, $2,081,004 had been expended; 8,000 State troops
had been employed and supported for six months ; the
State’s quota of Confederate war tax (in round numbers
$2,500,000) had been paid; a State armory had been
established in the penitentiary which was turning out
125 guns a month. The Confederate Congress had
passed an additional conscription act, extending its
scope to men between thirty-five and forty-five years
of age, and compelling the recruiting of existing organ¬
izations until filled to the maximum number. Gov¬
ernor Brown had notified the President a few weeks before
the meeting of the legislature that he would not permit
enrollment under this new law until that body met and
acted on the subject. The much-debated question of the
constitutionality of the conscript laws was submitted to
the State Supreme court, and that body affirmed the con¬
stitutionality.

Other war measures of the legislature of 1862 were acts
restricting the cultivation of cotton to three acres a hand,
intending to diversify agricultural industry and make the
people self-supporting; appropriating $500,000 to supply
the people with salt; $100,000 for cotton cards; something
more than $500,000 for obstruction of rivers; $400,000 for
the relief and hospital association; $1,500,000 for clothing
for soldiers; $2,500,000 for the support of widows and
families of deceased and disabled soldiers; $1,000,000 for
a military fund, and $300,000 to remove indigent white
non-combatants from any part of the State threatened
with invasion. The aggregate of these appropriations
for war was more than $6,000,000. The governor was
authorized to raise two regiments for home defense, and
to impress slaves for work on the defenses of the latter

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

109

city. It was further patriotically resolved that “Savannah
should never be surrendered, but defended, street by
street and house by house, until, if taken, the victor’s
spoils should be alone a heap of ashes.”

The military history of the West for 1862 closes with
two famous battles, almost simultaneous — one on the
Vicksburg line of defenses, the other between Nashville
and Chattanooga.

At Chickasaw bayou, a brigade of Georgians, organized
in east Tennessee under Gen. Seth M. Barton, and thence
transferred to Mississippi to meet the invasions under
Grant and Sherman, took a conspicuous part in the defeat
of Sherman by the Confederate forces under the command
of Gen. Stephen D. Lee. This brigade was composed of
the Fortieth regiment, Col. Abda Johnson; the Forty-
second, Col. R. J. Henderson; the Forty-third, Lieut. -
Col. Hiram P. Bell, and the Fifty-second, Col. C. D.
Phillips. The brigade took position at the Indian mound,
covering one of the bayou fords which the enemy at¬
tempted to cross in their endeavor to pierce the Confeder¬
ate line, and on the 28th of December five companies of
the Fortieth fought in the rifle-pits against sharpshooters
and artillery throughout the day. On the following day
a desperate assault, the main one of the battle, was made
upon General Barton’s position at the center, also upon
the right, and the repulse of it determined the fate of
Sherman’s campaign. The skirmishers, taken from the
Fortieth and Forty-second Georgia, bore the brunt of the
attack. Their comrades, reinforced by Colonel Phillips’
regiment and the Thirty-first Louisiana, fought with
equal tenacity. Five resolute efforts were made to carry
the breastworks, which were as often repulsed with heavy
loss. Three times the Federals succeeded in mounting
the parapet, and once made a lodgment and attempted to
mine. The Georgians and Louisianians, said General

110

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

Pemberton, “behaved with distinguished courage and
steadiness throughout. At this point the enemy did not
give up his attack until nightfall. ’ ’

On the right, during the attack on General Lee, a por¬
tion of the Federal line of assault was gallantly repulsed
by the Forty-second Georgia and Twenty-eighth Louisi¬
ana. General Pemberton included among the regiments
“entitled to the highest distinction’’ the Fortieth, Forty-
second and Fifty-second Georgia regiments. The loss
of the brigade, 15 killed and 39 wounded, was mainly in
the Forty-second and Fortieth. General Barton estimated
the Federal dead in their front at 650. The punishment
of the Federals was appalling to them, and served to post¬
pone the fall of Vicksburg for half a year. In his official
report General Barton mentioned with praise the services
of Cols. Abda Johnson (wounded), Henderson and Phil¬
lips, Lieutenant-Colonel Bell (wounded), and Maj. Henry
C. Kellogg, of the same regiment, and Capts. T. B.
Lyons and Patterson of his staff.

In the sanguinary struggle at Murfreesboro, or Stone’s
river, December 31st to January 2d, Gen. John K. Jack¬
son’s brigade, of Breckinridge’s division, which included
the Fifth regiment of infantry and the Second Georgia
battalion of sharpshooters, was in various parts of the
field at different stages of the battle, but experienced all
its severe loss in the brief space from noon to three in the
afternoon of December 31st, when it was sent by Breck¬
inridge to join in the assault upon the Federal center.
Jackson twice charged the enemy’s strong position, but
for the want of support from others, and the smallness
of his own numbers, was forced to take the cover of a
thick cedar wood. Both times the men fell back in good
order and were reformed in line, until they were ordered
to retire from the want of ammunition. Col. William T.
Black, of the Fifth, fell in the charge about 1 p. m. , a
minie ball inflicting a wound in the head from which he
died at 10 o’clock that night. Maj. C. P. Daniel was in

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

Ill

command of the regiment during the remainder of the
action. The color-bearer of the regiment, Thomas J.
Brantley, Company E, was killed by a minie ball passing
through his head, whereupon First Lieut. J. W. Eason,
of Company G, seized the colors and was instantly killed
in a similar manner. Maj. J. J. Cox, commanding the
Second battalion sharpshooters, was commended for gal¬
lantry. His men fought with great coolness and effect.
The Fifth regiment carried into this battle but 175 men
and lost 11 killed and 53 wounded. The sharpshooters,
152 strong, lost 4 killed and 27 wounded. The Georgians
in Gen. James E. Rains’ brigade, McCown’s division,
were fortunate enough to be in that part of the Confeder¬
ate line which drove the Federals before them on Decem¬
ber 31st. These commands were the Third battalion,
Lieut. -Col. M. A. Stovall, and the Ninth battalion, Maj.
Joseph T. Smith. In the first rush upon the enemy Col¬
onel Stovall and his men drove the gunners from a Fed¬
eral battery and sent the pieces to the rear. After pur¬
suing the enemy three miles, a fierce resistance was
encountered, but Stovall’s men, after delivering a volley
at 150 yards, charged down a hill, while the enemy
scampered up another, and began a galling fire from
under cover of the rocks and cedar thicket. Stovall made
a gallant assault, but gaining the enemy’s position suffered
heavily from an enfilading fire. Subsequently this battal¬
ion, reinforced by the Ninth, which had had a similar
experience though with less resistance, held an advanced
position until General Bragg withdrew his army. The
Third lost 6 killed and 33 wounded; the Ninth, 1 killed
and 1 1 wounded. Moses’ battery, attached to Palmer’s
Tennessee brigade, also participated in this battle. At
about the same period the Ninth battalion of Georgia
artillery, Maj. A. Leyden, was taking part in the opera¬
tions in east Tennessee under Gen. Humphrey Marshall.

CHAPTER VI.

SKETCHES OF GEORGIA COMMANDS.

HERE it will be appropriate to give a brief account
of the commands not already sketched that were
organized and put into service, the majority of
them before the close of 1862.

The Thirty-first regiment Georgia volunteers was
organized in the fall of 1861 with the following field and
staff officers: Col. P. J. Phillips, Lieut. -Col. Daniel P.
Hill, Maj. C. A. Evans, Adjt. J. H. Woodbridge, Com¬
missary J. H. Sutton, Quartermaster A. B. Redding.
The captains were Apollo Forrester (A), Rodolphus T.
Pride (B), Archer Griffith (C), John T. Crowder (D),
L. B. Redding (E), Warren D. Wood (F), J. H. Lowe
(G), John W. Murphey (H), George W. Lewis (I), R. H.
Fletcher (K). C. A. Evans soon became colonel of the
regiment, then brigadier-general, and during the Appo¬
mattox campaign, as well as the preceding one, was in
command of the division that made the last charge at
Appomattox Court House. J. T. Crowder became lieu¬
tenant-colonel, J. H. Lowe, major, William M. Head,
adjutant. Captain Forrester (killed) was succeeded by
C. L. Shorter; Sanders by Archer Griffith; Crowder
by Thomas B. Settle; Redding, by W. H. Harrison;
Fletcher by S. W. Thornton. The Thirty-first partici¬
pated in all the campaigns of the army of Northern Vir¬
ginia except that of First Manassas, bearing a conspic¬
uously active part.

At the organization of the Thirty-second regiment
Georgia volunteers the field officers were: Col. George
P. Harrison, Jr., Lieut. -Col. W. H. Pruden, Maj. E. H.

112

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY. 113

Bacon, Jr., Adjt. G. M. Blount; Capts. (A) W. Y.
Holland, (B) J. B. McDowell; (C) S. J. Heath, (D) R. K.
Hines, (E) S. A. H. Jones, (F) C. A. Willis, (G) J. A.
Phillips, (H) S. D. Mobley, (I) J. F. Lewis, (K) F. G.
Godbee. This regiment served for most of the war in
the department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida,
being engaged in much of the fierce fighting in the
vicinity of Charleston in 1863, notably in the defense of
Battery Wagner. It was also distinguished at the battle
of Olustee, Fla., and served with credit in the campaign
of the Carolinas in 1865, surrendering with Johnston
April 26th. During its faithful career the following
changes are recorded as having occurred among its
officers: Maj. E. H. Bacon became lieutenant-colonel,
and Captain Holland, major, while W. D. Cornwell suc¬
ceeded him in command of his company. J. A. Hines
became captain of Company D, P. R. Taliaferro of
Company E, and J. L. McElmurry of Company K.

The Thirty-third Georgia regiment did not complete
its organization, but became merged in other commands.

The Thirty-fourth regiment Georgia volunteers was offi¬
cered as follows: Col. J. S. W. Johnson, Lieut. -Col. J. W.
Bradley, Maj. Thomas T. Donough and later John M.
Jackson, Adjt. I. G. McLendon; Capts. Caleb Chitwood
(A), Thomas A. Veal (B), R. A. Jones (C), William E.
Broch (D), Jordan Rowland (E), W. A. Walker (F),
G. M. Blackwell (G), John M. Jackson (H), A. T. Ben¬
nett (I), A. P. Daniel (K). The regiment was sent
into east Tennessee ; served in the Kentucky campaign,
afterward in the department of East Tennessee, in the
Vicksburg campaign and at Missionary Ridge; went all
through the Atlanta campaign, then participated in
Hood’s gallant but unsuccessful attempt to recover Ten¬
nessee for the Confederacy. Finally, after all the hard¬
ships and perils of the arduous service rendered to the
Confederacy, being consolidated with the Thirty-ninth
and part of the Fifty-sixth Georgia, it participated in the

114

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

campaign of the Carolinas that closed with the capitula¬
tion at Durham’s Station, April 26, 1865. Of changes in
this organization we have not been able to obtain any
record.

The Thirty-fifth regiment Georgia volunteers at its
organization had the following officers: Col. Edward L.
Thomas, Lieut. -Col. Gustavus A. Bull, Maj. B. H. Holt,
Adjt. J. H. Ware; Capts. (A) William I. Head, (B)
L. M. White, (C) D. B. Henry, (D) L. A. J. Williams,
(E) E. R. Whitley, (F) R. M. Rawlings, (G) William S.
Barrett, (H) A. K. Richardson, (I) W. L. Groves, (K)
W. H. McCulloch. The Thirty-fifth was assigned to
the army of Northern Virginia, and participated in all
the campaigns of that magnificent body of infantry from
Seven Pines to Appomattox. Its colonel, Edward L.
Thomas, became brigadier-general, and commanded
with gallantry and skill on every field. Exclusive of the
officers already mentioned, it had during its honorable
career: Col. Bolling H. Holt, Lieut. -Cols. B. H. Holt
and W. H. McCulloch, Majs. W. H. McCulloch, W. L.
Groves, L. A. Williams, J. T. McElvany; Adjt. S. W.
Thomas, whose predecessor, Ware, was killed in battle.
Captain Henry was killed in battle, and J. M. Mitchell
and I. P. Johnston succeeded Captain Williams. Upon
the death of R. M. Rawlings, J. T. McElvany became
captain and was afterward promoted major. Captain
Groves, promoted major, was succeeded by S. T. Irvine.

The Thirty-sixth regiment Georgia volunteers was
organized in part from the First Georgia independent
battalion. Its field officers were: Col. Jesse A. Glenn,
Lieut.-Col. Alexander M. Wallace, Maj. Charles E.
Broyles, Adjt. John S. Ault. Broyles became colonel of
the regiment, and John Loudermilk, major. The cap¬
tains of the companies during its term of service were :
(A) J. W. Aderhold and Joseph Glenn, (B) H. J. Spray-
berry and George A. Cooper, (C) B. B. White and F. M.
Dwight, (D) R. Rhodes and John Loudermilk, (E)

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

115

W. H. Howard, Jr., and J. D. Gilbert, (F) J. P. Girardey
and E. L. Martin, (G) R. T. English and D. H. Elledge,
(H) J. F. Kerr and A. P. Roberts, (I) J. N. Edwards
and J. L. Morgan, (K) A. A. Dyer, (L) Thomas Williams.
The officers of this list who had been captains in the
First independent battalion were Aderhold, Sprayberry,
Rhodes, Howard, Girardey, Kerr and Edwards. This
regiment was at Pensacola with J. B. Villepigue as col¬
onel. Villepigue was soon promoted to brigadier-general
and his place was filled by Col. Jesse A. Glenn. In the
spring of 1862 the regiment was sent to east Tennessee.
It was in Stevenson’s division during the Vicksburg
campaign, at Missionary Ridge, and in the Atlanta and
Tennessee campaigns. It served also in the campaign
of the Carolinas, consolidated with the Forty-second and
parts of the Thirty-fourth and Thirty-sixth, and was
surrendered April 26, 1865.

The First Confederate regiment, of Georgia, seems
to have been made up from parts of the First indepen¬
dent battalion with companies from other commands,
and had for its colonel, G. A. Smith, formerly cap¬
tain of Company C. The First Confederate also
shared the fortunes of the army of Tennessee in the
campaigns in Tennessee and Georgia. During the cam¬
paign in the Carolinas it was consolidated with the First
battalion of sharpshooters and the Twenty-fifth, Twenty-
ninth, Thirtieth and Sixty-sixth Georgia regiments.
After long and faithful service it surrendered with
Johnston in North Carolina.

The Thirty-seventh regiment Georgia volunteers
had for its field officers Col. A. F. Rudler, Lieut. -Col.
J. T. Smith, Maj. J. J. Bradford and later Maj. R. E.
Wilson, Adjt. G. H. Sherod. The captains were : (A)
R. E. Wilson, (B) T. E. Blanchard, (D) J. G. McMullin,
who was killed and succeeded by W. M. Clark, (I) M.
Kendrick, who died and was succeeded by T. D. Wright
and he by William Hutchinson, (K) W. H. H. Phelps.

116

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

The Thirty-seventh was formed in part from two splendid
battalions, the Third and Ninth, which had been distin¬
guished at Murfreesboro. In Bate’s brigade it shared in
the Chickamauga and Chattanooga campaigns, ending
with Missionary Ridge; also in the Atlanta and Tennes¬
see campaigns of 1864. In the spring of 1865 the Thirty-
seventh regiment and Fourth battalion of Georgia sharp¬
shooters were consolidated with the Fifty-fourth Georgia,
by which number these three commands were known
during the campaign in the Carolinas.

The Thirty-eighth regiment Georgia volunteers at its
organization had as field officers: Col. Augustus R.
Wright, Lieut. -Col. George W. Lee, Maj. Lewis J. Parr.
The captains were: William L. McLeod (A), Robert B.
Eberhart (B), John V. Flowers (C), George W. Mc-
Clesky (D), William H. Battey (E), Cornelius R. Han-
leiter (F), William Wright (G), Thomas H. Bomar (H),
John C. Thornton (I), James D. Matthews (K). The
Thirty-eighth was formed from Wright’s Georgia legion
and the Twenty-fifth Georgia. After this consolidation
it served in the army of Northern Virginia from the
spring of 1862 until the surrender at Appomattox, where,
in the division commanded by Brig. -Gen. Clement A.
Evans and the corps of General Gordon, it helped to
make the last successful charge of that army. The fol¬
lowing field officers succeeded those who were appointed
at its organization: Cols. George W. Lee and J. D.
Matthews, Lieut. -Cols. Lewis J. Parr, J. D. Matthews
and P. E. Davant, Maj. T. H. Bomar. The following
captains succeeded those first named: J. W. Brinson
and L. W. Farmer (E), George F. Robinson (G), J. O.
Maxwell (I), Charles A. Hawkins, R. T. Donough and
L. H. T. Bomar (K). The following captains were
killed in battle: William L. McLeod, George W.
McClesky, William H. Battey, L. W. Farmer and
Charles A. Hawkins.

The Thirty-ninth regiment Georgia volunteers had the

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

117

following officers: Col. J. T. McConnell, Lieut. -Col.
J. F. B. Jackson, Maj. J. H. Randall, Adjt. W. M.
McCallister; Capts. (A) L. W. Crook, (B) T. H. Pit-
ner, (C) Timothy Ford, (D) J. W. Cureton, (E) C. D.
Hill, who resigned and was succeeded by Henry P.
Osborne, (F) James H. Anderson, (G) B. J. Brown, (H)
William H. Edwards, (I) John D. Hayes, (K) J. W.
Brady. This regiment was assigned to the army of
Tennessee; was engaged in the campaign of 1862 in east
Tennessee and Kentucky; was sent to Mississippi, where
it participated in all the battles of the Vicksburg cam¬
paign, being among those captured at Vicksburg; was
exchanged in time to share in the battle at Missionary
Ridge, and was in the Atlanta and Tennessee campaigns.
In the spring of 1865 it was consolidated with parts of
the Thirty-fourth and Fifty-sixth regiments, retain¬
ing its own number, and was engaged in the campaign
of the Carolinas, surrendering with J. E. Johnston. Its
colonel, J. T. McConnell, died from wounds received in
action, and was succeeded by Lieutenant-Colonel Jack-
son. Captain Brady was killed. Captain Osborne died
at his home in Augusta, Ga., from sickness contracted
during the siege of Vicksburg, being not yet twenty-one
years of age.

The Fortieth regiment Georgia volunteers had the fol¬
lowing officers: Col. Abda Johnson, Lieut. -Col. Robert
M. Young, Maj. Raleigh G. Camp, Adjt. G. W. War¬
wick; Capts. (A) John H. Matthews, (B) John U.
Dobbs, (C) Z. B. Hargrove, (D) Francis H. Hall, (E)
J. F. Grooves, (F) John Middlebrooks, (G) Thomas J.
Foster, (H) Joseph L. Neil, (I) Abda Johnson, (K)
Alexander Murchison. On the organization of the
regiment Captain Johnson was elected colonel. The
Fortieth was assigned to service first in Tennessee, then
in Mississippi ; was engaged with distinction in the bat¬
tle of Chickasaw Bayou in December, 1862, and shared
the battles and hardships of the Vicksburg campaign,

118

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

forming part of the garrison which surrendered with
Pemberton. Exchanged in time to participate in the
battle of Missionary Ridge, it bore an honorable part in
the Atlanta and Tennessee campaigns. In the spring of
1865 it was consolidated with the Forty-first and Forty-
third Georgia, retaining its own number, and after taking
part in the campaign of the Carolinas, surrendered with
General Johnston.

At the organization of the Forty-first Georgia, Charles
A. McDaniel was made colonel; William E. Curtis, lieu¬
tenant-colonel; John Knight, major; E. Elless, adjut¬
ant, and A. D. Abraham, quartermaster. The captains
were: J. E. Stallings (A), George N. Lester (B),
George S. Avery (C), John W. Powell (D), J. C. Cart¬
wright (E), S. D. Clements (F), Washington Henibree
(G), Newton J. Ross (H), W. B. Thomason (I), J. J.
Bowen (K). This regiment was assigned to the army of
Tennessee; was for a time in north Mississippi; went
with Bragg into Kentucky, and was especially distin¬
guished at Perryville, where it had two color-bearers
killed and four wounded, and where its gallant colonel,
McDaniel, fell late in the evening mortally wounded. It
went with Stevenson’s division to Mississippi, where it
participated in the battles of the Vicksburg campaign,
and was included in the surrender of that important
post. It was exchanged in time to take part in the bat¬
tle of Missionary Ridge ; was in the Atlanta and Tennes¬
see campaigns of 1864, and in 1865, being consolidated
with the Fortieth and Forty-third Georgia, participated
in the campaign of the Carolinas and in General Johns¬
ton’s surrender. Some of the changes in officers were as
follows: William E. Curtis became colonel; Major
Knight, lieutenant-colonel; W. S. Nall, major; D.
McClesky and Thomas L. Dobbs became captains of Com¬
pany B, S. D. Clements of Company F, R. A. Wood
of Company G.

The Forty-second regiment Georgia volunteers had at

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

119

first the following field officers : Col. Robert J. Henderson,
Lieut. -Col. R. F. Maddox, Maj. William H. Hulsey, and
Adjt. H. M. Wylie. The captains were: (A) L. P.
Thomas, (B) B. P. Weaver, (C) H. W. Parris, (D)
Nathan Clay, (E) T. J. Mercer, (F) James M. Summers,
(G) Enoch E. McCollum, (H) J. T. Mitchell, (I) John
H. Barrett, (K) William L. Calhoun. The Forty-second
was assigned to the army of Tennessee ; took part in the
campaign of Gen. Kirby Smith in east Tennessee and
Kentucky; was sent to Mississippi in time for the battle
of Chickasaw Bayou, where it was complimented in
general orders ; acted a gallant part in the battles of the
Vicksburg campaign, and was exchanged in time to share
in the battle of Missionary Ridge. It was m the Dal-
ton-Atlanta campaign, and especially distinguished in
the headlong charge at Atlanta, July 22, 1864, along
the Georgia railroad, capturing a battery of guns. The
regiment shared also in the hardships and battles of the
Tennessee campaign. In the spring of 1865 it was con¬
solidated with the Thirty-sixth and parts of the Thirty-
fourth and Fifty-sixth Georgia regiments, retaining its
own number, and again followed the lead of Gen. J. E.
Johnston in the campaign of the Carolinas, surrendering
at Durham’s Station. Major Hulsey became lieutenant-
colonel, and Captain Thomas was promoted to major.

The Forty-third regiment Georgia volunteers at its
organization had for officers: Col. Skidmore Harris,
Lieut. -Col. Hiram P. Bell, Maj. Henry C. Kellogg, and
Adjt. J. S. Allen; Capts. (A) William F. Mullins,
(B) M. M. Grantham, (C) Benjamin F. Hanie, (D) Wil¬
liam P. Brown, (E) Thomas G. Pilgrim, (F) James F.
Law, (G) M. M. Mintz, (H) H. R. Howard, (I) W. C.
Lester, (K) John F. Rivers, (L) M. H. West. The regi¬
ment was assigned to the army of Tennessee after the
battle of Shiloh; went into the Kentucky campaign in
McCown’s division; was sent to Mississippi, where it
served with great distinction from Chickasaw Bayou to

120

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

the surrender of Vicksburg, July 4, 1863; was exchanged
in time to take part in the battle of Missionary Ridge;
was in the Atlanta and Tennessee campaigns, acquitting
itself well on all occasions, and in the spring of 1865 was
consolidated with the Fortieth and Forty-first Georgia,
and served through the campaign of the Carolinas under
General Johnston, until surrendered April 26, 1865.
Major Kellogg became colonel; A. M. Reinhart and
W. I. Sloan became captains of Company A, M. J.
Ragsdale of Company D, Cicero H. Furr of Company

F, and J. M. Storey of Company G.

The Forty-fourth regiment Georgia volunteers was
organized with Col. Robert A. Smith, Lieut. -Col. J. B.
Estes, Maj. Richard O. Banks, Adjt. Charles M. Wiley;
Capts. (A) W. H. Peebles, (B) John C. Key, (C) Sam¬
uel P. Lumpkin, (D) John B. Estes, (E) Joseph W.
Adams, (F) David L. Hitchcock, (G) John Huie, (H)
John C. Redding, (I) Charles W. Alliston. It was as¬
signed to the army of Northern Virginia and served in
its arduous campaigns from the spring of 1862 to the
surrender at Appomattox. The list of the great battles
fought by the soldiers under Lee is so familiar to our
readers that it is not necessary to repeat them here.
The successors of those holding commissions at its organ¬
ization were: Col. John B. Estes, Samuel P. Lumpkin,
William H. Peebles; Lieut. -Cols. Samuel P. Lumpkin,
W. H. Peebles and James W. Beck; Majs. Joseph W.
Adams, W. H. Peebles, J. W. Beck and John C. Key;
Capts. (A) H. M. Credille, (B) James Henderson, (D)
R. R. Hanes, (E) J. H. Connally, (F) C. D. Pearson,

G. G. Green and J. B. Reese, (G) J. L. Blalock, (H)
John W. Butler, (I) J. H. Harris, James W. Beck and
Thomas T. Eason. Major Adams died in service; Cap¬
tains Green and Alliston were killed in action.

The Forty-fifth regiment Georgia volunteers had at
first the following field officers: Col. Thomas Hardeman,
Lieut. -Col. T. J. Simmons, Maj.W. L. Grice, Adjt. George

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

121

F. Cherry. The captains were : (A) M. R. Rogers, (B)
J. W. Dozier, (C) James M. Carter, (D) Joseph H. White,
(E) William S. Wallace, (F) Richard M. Bonner, (G)
C. A. Conn, (H) William M. Davis, (I) L. J. Dupree,
(K) A. W. Gibson. Going to Virginia, the Forty-fifth
began its battles at Hanover Court House and served
until the surrender at Appomattox, being engaged in all
the great conflicts of the army of Northern Virginia, in
the campaigns around Richmond, in northern Virginia,
Maryland and Pennsylvania, and afterward helping to
baffle the desperate efforts and overwhelming resources
of Grant for nearly a year. The successors to those
holding office at its organization were: Col. Thomas J.
Simmons; Lieut. -Cols. W. L. Grice, J. W. Carter, W. S.
Wallace and C. A. Conn (killed) ; Majs. M. R. Rogers,
J. W. Carter and A. W. Gibson; Capts. (A) W. H. Shaw
and George F. Cherry, (C) John H. Baskim, (F) John
Hardeman, (H) John G. Brown, (I) J. I. Hall and J. M.
Carter.

The Forty-sixth regiment Georgia volunteers had for
its first officers: Col. Peyton H. Colquitt (killed), Lieut. -
Col. William A. Daniel, Maj. Alexander M. Speer, Adjt.
W. W. Charlton; Capts. (A) T. B. Hancock, (B) Samuel
J. C. Dunlap, (C) A. H. Cooper (killed), (D) E. G. Raiford,
(E) William A. Andrews, (F) John P. Beatty, (G) G. A.
Ball, (H) Eleazer Taylor, (I) W. F. Moore, (K) A. G.
Bedell. It served during 1862 on the Georgia coast,
then near Charleston until May, 1863, when it was sent
to Mississippi in Gist’s brigade; shared in the campaigns
that included the battles of Chickamauga and Missionary
Ridge ; participated in the Atlanta and Tennessee cam¬
paigns of 1864, and in the spring of 1865, being consoli¬
dated with the Forty-seventh Georgia and Bonaud’s
battalion, was engaged in the campaign of the Carolinas,
surrendering with General Johnston. The successors to
those holding office in the regiment at its organization
were as follows: Col. S. J. C. Dunlap, previously major;

Ga 16

122

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

Adjt. W. R. Bedell; Capts. (C) T. C. Tillman, (F)
R. M. Dixon, (G) Malcom Gillis, (I) W. A. Davis,
(K) I. F. Pou.

The Forty-seventh regiment Georgia volunteers had at
first the following field officers: Col. G. W. M. Williams
(died), Lieut. -Col. A. C. Edwards, Maj. J. S. Cone,
Adjt. B. S. Williams. The captains were: (A) M. J.
Doyle, (B) Pat Gormley. The roll is incomplete. The
Forty-seventh was made up from the Eleventh battalion
of infantry which had served on the Georgia coast in 1862.
It was sent to the army of Tennessee in 1863 ; was in the
campaigns of Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge, in the
Atlanta campaign; then went to Savannah in Hardee’s
command. In the spring of 1865 it was consolidated
With the Forty-sixth Georgia and Bonaud’s battalion,
and was engaged in the campaign of the Carolinas
under Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, surrendering with him
near Goldsboro. Some of the successors to those holding
office in the regiment at its organization were as follows :
Col. A. C. Edwards, Lieut. -Cols. W. S. Phillips and J. S.
Cone, Maj. A. G. Cone.

The first officers of the Forty-eighth regiment Georgia
volunteers were : Col. William Gibson, Lieut. -Col. R. W.
Carswell, Maj. J. R. Whitehead, Adjt. Julian Gumming;
Capts. (A) A. Kelley (killed), (B) M. R. Hall, (C) H. J.
Dortic (killed), (D) John W. Harlow (killed), (E) T. H.
Polhill (killed), (F) Thomas W. Kent, (G) Ulysses A.
Rice, (H) Neill McLeod, (I) R. J. Wilson, (K) T. J.
Hamilton. This regiment was assigned to the army of
Northern Virginia in the spring of 1862. It was engaged
in the campaigns of the Peninsula, Seven Days’ before
Richmond, Northern Virginia and Maryland, Fredericks¬
burg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, and in the long
continued campaign against Grant from the spring of
1864 to the closing scene at Appomattox, April 9, 1865.
The successors to the officers at the organization were:
Col. M. R. Hall, successively major, lieutenant-colonel

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

123

and colonel, Adjt. T. H. Gibson, Capts. (C) L. G.
Doughty (killed) and J. K. Evans, (D) U. L. Skinner,
(E) R. W. Carswell and W. J. Smith, (G) T. J. Robert¬
son, (H) A. C. Flanders, (K) D. T. Wilson.

The Forty-ninth regiment Georgia volunteers had
first the following field officers: Col. Andrew J. Lane;
Lieut. -Col. Seaborn M. Manning; Maj. J. Rivers; Adjt.
M. Newman. The captains were: (A) S. T. Player,
(B) Jas. Humphreys (died), (C) Wm. M. Carter,

(D) Wm. F. Holden, (E) Samuel D. Fuller, (F)
O. H. Cooke, (G) Jas. T. Cappell, (H) A. D.
Jernigan, (I) Jas. J. Lawrence, (K) H. H. Whitfield.
The Forty-ninth served in Virginia through the Pen¬
insular and Richmond campaigns, in northern Virginia
and Maryland, at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and
Gettysburg, and in the campaign of 1864-65, being still
at the post of duty in the last days at Petersburg and
in the final scene at Appomattox. Officers succeeding
those at the organization were : Cols. S. T. Player, J. T.
Jordan; Lieut. -Cols. Jonathan Rivers, S. T. Player,

O. H. Cooke, J. T. Jordan, W. J. Williams; Majs. S. T.
Player, J. H. Pate, W. J. Williams, John Durham, J. B.
Duggan; Capts. (A) J. B. Duggan, (B) W. J. Wil¬
liams, (C) J. T. Jordan, (D) John Durham, (E) A. C.
McLennon, (F) T. D. Wilcox, (G) H. B. Hanley, (H)
C. M. Jones (killed) and W. G. Bell, (I) J. W. Allen, (K)
S. M. Manning, J. H. Pate and O. A. V. Rose.

The organization of the Fiftieth regiment Georgia vol¬
unteers was as follows: Field officers, Col. W. R. Man¬
ning, Lieut. -Col. F. Kearse, Maj. P. C. Pendleton, Adjt.
James P. Graves; Capts. (A) John T. Wilson, (B)

P. B. Bedford, (C) John M. Spence, (D) James T. Bevill,

(E) Cicero H. Young, (F) Duncan Curry, (G) John B.
Osteen, (H) Jesse M. Wells, (I) E. C. Morgan, (K)
Pliny Sheffield. The Fiftieth was another of the com¬
mands that served in the army of Northern Virginia,
sharing in its splendid career of victory, almost unbroken

124

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

until Gettysburg, and then renewed during the spring
and summer of 1864, participating in the long siege of
Richmond and Petersburg and the final scene at Appo¬
mattox. During its period of service the successors to
those first holding office were as follows: Col. Peter
McGlashan; Lieut. -Col. W. O. Flemming; Majs. D.
Curm, W. O. Flemming, P. Sheftall; Capts. (B) P. C.
Pendleton, (F) W. O. Flemming and H. L. Reeves, (I)
C. Townsend, (K) John G. McCall.

The Fifty-first regiment Georgia volunteers was mus¬
tered in with the following field officers: Col. W. M.
Slaughter (died), Lieut. -Col. E. Ball, Maj. O. P.
Anthony, Adjt. J. H. West; Capts. (A) H. M. Dun-
woody, (B) W. C. Ware (killed), (C) A. Cumbie, (D)
T. M. D. Hopkins, (E) James Dickey, (F) B. J. Ken¬
drick, (G) John P. Crawford, (H) Edward Ball, (I) O. P.
Anthony, (K) William M. Slaughter. The regiment
participated in all the campaigns of the army of Northern
Virginia from Seven Pines and the battles around Rich¬
mond to Sharpsburg; then in the Fredericksburg, Chan-
cellorsville and Gettysburg campaigns, and in the con¬
tinuous battles of the campaigns of 1864-65, from the
Wilderness to Appomattox, suffering, like all the regi¬
ments of that army, great losses in officers and men.
Officers during this term of service succeeding those
already named were: Cols. E. Ball and James Dickey;
Lieut. -Cols. O. P. Anthony, J. Dickey and J. P. Craw¬
ford; Majs. H. M. Dunwoody, James Dickey and J. P.
Crawford; Capts. (A) S. Alexander (killed) and W. R.
McLean, (B) W. H. Chastain, (C) J. W. Brooks, (F)
T. M. Jones, (H) William F. Davis, (I) S. A. McLendon,
(K) Richard Hobbs.

The Fifty-second regiment Georgia volunteers had
at first the following field officers: Col. Wier Boyd,
Lieut. -Col. C. D. Phillips, Adjt. W. A. James. The
captains were: (A) S. H. Vandiviere, (B) J. J. Moore, (C)
R. R. Asbury, (D) John A. Parker, (E) D. W. Killian,

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

125

(F) S. M. Beck, (G) Lewis B. Beard, (H) W. W. Brown,
(I) John R. Russell, (K) T. F. Cooper. The Fifty-
second was assigned to Kirby Smith’s department of East
Tennessee in the spring of 1862, served in Stevenson’s
division, which recaptured Cumberland Gap, and then
marched into Kentucky. In the fall it was sent to Mis¬
sissippi, was greatly distinguished at Chickasaw Bayou,
and in the spring and summer of 1863 participated in the
battles of the campaign that closed with the siege and
surrender of Vicksburg. It was engaged at Missionary
Ridge, and served through the Atlanta campaign and the
campaign in Tennessee, and was in the Carolinas under
Gen. J. E. Johnston, surrendering April 26, 1865. The
roster of this regiment is even more incomplete than
others, the only record of change made being that
J. W. Woodward succeeded Captain Parker, and that
C. D. Phillips became colonel.

The Fifty-third regiment Georgia volunteers had at
organization the following officers: Col. L. T. Doyal,
Lieut. -Col. Thomas Sloan, Maj. J. P. Simms, Adjt. John
F. Hanson; Capts. (A) T. W. Atkins, (B) Thomas W.
Simms, (C) Samuel W. Marshbone, (D) J. W. Hance
(killed), (E) S. W. Glass, (F) Thomas Sloan, (G) R. P.
Taylor, (H) W. B. Baker, (I) J. M. D. Bonds, (K) J. M.
Ponder. The Fifty-third was part of the splendid bri¬
gade of General Semmes, in Virginia, serving under that
gallant officer until his death at Gettysburg ; then under
General Bryan during the Chattanooga and Knoxville
campaign of Longstreet, with whom, returning to Vir¬
ginia, it served through the Overland campaign and
around Richmond. During its long and honorable
career its losses in officers and men were severe. Maj.
J ames P. Simms became colonel ; was promoted to brig¬
adier-general, and during the Appomattox campaign
commanded the brigade. The records are incomplete,
and silent as to other changes.

The Fifty-fourth regiment Georgia volunteers had for

126

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

its first field officers: Col. Charlton H. Way, Lieut. -Col.
Morgan Rawls, Maj. William H. Mann, Adjt. T. H.
Brantley. The captains were: (A) T. W. Brantley, (B)
George W. Moody, (C) D. A. Green, (D) A. S. Roberts,
(E) J. H. Evans, (F) W. T. Chisholm, (G) George W.
Knight, (H) C. R. Russell, (I) L. L. Elkins, (K) George
Eason. The regiment served for some time in the
department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida,
being one of the regiments engaged in the heroic defense
of Battery Wagner on Morris island, near Charleston.
Sent to Dalton in the spring of 1864, it participated in the
Atlanta and Tennessee campaigns. In the spring of
1865, having been consolidated with the Thirty-seventh
Georgia regiment and Fourth Georgia battalion of sharp¬
shooters, it took part in the campaign of the Carolinas and
surrendered with General Johnston at Goldsboro. The
only recorded changes are : T. M. Brantley became cap¬
tain of Company C, and H. M. Totly of Company E.

The Fifty-fifth regiment Georgia volunteers was
organized with the following field officers: Col. C. B.
Harkie, Lieut. -Col. A. W. Persons, Maj. D. S. Printup,
Adjt. R. C. Saxon. The captains were: (A) Turner J.
Ball, (B) James M. Griffin, (C) William J. Collins, (D)
John G. Lester, (E) Ben R. Kendrick (killed), (F)
H. W. Baker, (G) R. L. Mitchell, (H) J. P. Allen, (I)
D. A. Lee (died), (K) M. P. Tucker, (L) E. M. West¬
brook. The Fifty-fifth was sent to east Tennessee, in
the spring of 1862, and in Heth’s division marched into
Kentucky. Returning to east Tennessee, it served in
that department until surrendered with the rest of the
garrison of Cumberland Gap in the summer of 1863.
After exchange it was placed on detached service, guard¬
ing prisoners at Andersonville, Ga., and Salisbury, N. C.
In March, 1865, the detachments of the regiment were
ordered to report to General Johnston in North Carolina,
but the war ended before the order could be obeyed.
The regiment had the following officers besides those

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

127

already named : Cols. A. W. Persons and D. S. Printup,
Lieut. -Col. D. S. Printup, Maj. M. P. Tucker, and Capt.
J. J. Roberson succeeded Baker.

At the organization of the Fifty-sixth regiment Georgia
volunteers the field officers were: Col. E. P. Watkins,
Lieut. -Col. J. T. Slaughter, Maj. M. L. Poole, Adjt.
James N. Bass. The captains were: (A) J. P. Brewster,
(B) J. M. Martin, (C) J. A. Grice, (D) W. S. Monroe, (E)
J. F. Albert, (F) P. H. Prather (killed), (G) E. M.
Streetman, (H) J. M. Parish, (I) J. M. Cobb, (K) B. T.
Sherman. In the spring of 1862 the regiment was sent
to east Tennessee, where it served in Stevenson’s divi¬
sion in the recapture of Cumberland Gap and the advance
into Kentucky. In the fall of that year it was sent to
Mississippi, sharing with other regiments of the division
in the battles and privations of the campaign which
ended with the surrender of Vicksburg. After being
exchanged it participated in the battle of Missionary
Ridge and the Atlanta and Tennessee campaigns of
1864. In the spring of 1865 part of it was consolidated
with the Thirty- fourth and Thirty-ninth under the name
of the latter, and part with the Thirty-sixth and Forty-
second as the Forty-second Georgia. It served in the
campaign of the Carolinas, which closed with the sur¬
render near Goldsboro. During its service Captain
Brewster became major, and J. H. Harrison, captain of
Company K.

The Fifty-seventh regiment Georgia volunteers went
into service with the following field officers: Col. William
Barkaloo, Lieut. -Col. E. S. Guyton, Maj. John W. Shin-
holser. Commissary M. W. Johnston, Asst. Quarter¬
master H. Cleveland, Adjt. T. J. Dyson. The captains
were: (A) L. C. Bryan, (B) James M. Smith, (C) Lucius

Q. Tucker, (D) Henry K. Byington, (E) C. H. Richard¬
son, (F) John F. Vinson, (G) James P. Jordon, (H) John

R. Bonner, (I) George W. Bishop, (K) J. W. Shinholser.
The Fifty-seventh served under Kirby Smith in east

128

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

Tennessee through the greater part of 1862. In Steven¬
son’s division it participated in the siege of Cumberland
Gap and the march into Kentucky. In the latter part of
the year it went in the same division to Mississippi, par¬
ticipating in the battles of the Vicksburg campaign and
surrendering with the rest of that gallant garrison. After
exchange it took part in the Atlanta and Tennessee cam¬
paigns, and in the spring of 1865, being consolidated with
the First volunteers and Sixty-third Georgia under the
name of the First Georgia, it served in the Carolinas
under Joe Johnston. Stephen De Bruhl and George K.
Hunter successively became adjutants of this regiment,
and J. N. Shinholser succeeded Capt. J. W. Shinholser,
promoted major.

The Fifty-ninth regiment Georgia volunteers was
organized with Jack Brown, colonel; C. J. Harris, lieu¬
tenant-colonel; Bolivar H. Gee, major; W. A. Sparks,
commissary; B. F. Bruton, assistant quartermaster; H.
Marshall, adjutant. The captains were: (A) B. H. Gee,
(B) John G. Collins, (C) W. H. Ficklin, (D) D. C. Smith,
(E) M. G. Bass, (F) James M. Rouse, (G) G. F. Brown,
(H) Jack Brown, (I) E. Cain (died), (K) C. J. Harris.
The regiment served in the department of South Caro¬
lina, Georgia and Florida, part of the time guarding
stores and prisoners at Macon; in 1863 was ordered to
Virginia and assigned to Gen. G. T. Anderson’s brigade
in time to participate in the battle of Gettysburg; was
then sent to Charleston, and soon after to Longstreet at
Chattanooga, going with him through the Knoxville
campaign. Returning to Virginia in the spring of 1864
it served from the Wilderness to Appomattox. The suc¬
cessors to the original officers were: Lieut. -Co], B. H.
Gee, Majs. C. J. Harris, M. G. Bass and W. H. Ficklin,
Adjt. M. F. Bass; Capts. (D) B. H. Miller, (E) B. L.
Brown, (H) F. M. Robinson and W. W. Train, (I) John

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

129

W. Hutchinson, (K) F. W. Johnson and S. H. Gates.
Col. Jack Brown started out with the regiment and sur¬
rendered with it at Appomattox.

The Sixtieth regiment Georgia volunteers was formed
by the union of the Fourth Georgia battalion with other
companies. At its organization it had as field officers:
Col. W. H. Stiles, Lieut. -Col. Thomas J. Berry, Maj.
W. B. Jones, Commissary A. D. Murray, Asst. Quarter¬
master D. N. Speer, Adj. B. F. Keller. The captains
were: (A) T. D. Bertody, (B) W. B. Jones, (C) J. C. Ward-
law, (D) W. Talliaferro, (E) J. W. Beck, (F) W. P. Jar-
rett, (G) John B. Golding (killed), (H) W. H. Stiles, (I)
B. F. Fariss, (K) W. H. Howard. This regiment went
to Virginia in the spring of 1862 in Lawton’s brigade,
Jackson’s division. It served in the battles around
Richmond, the campaign of Second Manassas and Mary¬
land, and at Fredericksburg. After Lawton’s appoint¬
ment as quartermaster-general, Gen. John B. Gordon was
assigned to the brigade, and subsequently the same com¬
mand became Evans’ brigade. Under these three bri¬
gade commanders the regiment served from the battles
around Richmond through the Overland campaign, the
campaign of Early in Maryland and in the valley, then
in the trenches at Petersburg, and finally in Evans’ divi¬
sion of Gordon’s corps in the campaign that closed at
Appomattox. During this long and arduous career the
losses of the regiment were very heavy. Some of the
successors to the officers already named were : Col. W.
B. Jones, Adjt. R. L. McFarlin; Capts. (C) James C.
Ward and J. A. Edmondson, (H) W. C. Leake.

When the Sixty-first regiment Georgia volunteers
had completed its organization, the field officers were as
follows: Col. John H. Lamar, Lieut. -Col. J. Y. Mc¬
Duffie, Maj. A. P. McRae, Asst. Quartermaster George
Higgins, Adjt. G. W. Lamar. The captains were : (A)

G. D. Wilcox, (B) D. R. A. Johnson, (C) Daniel McDon¬
ald, (D) S. H. Kennedy, (E) C. W. McArthur, (F) P.

Ga 17

130

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

Brennan, (G) W. Fannin, (H) J. M. Dasher, (I) J. D. Van
Valkenburg, (K) E. F. Sharpe. The history of this regi¬
ment is the same as that of the Sixtieth. With equal
fortitude and like renown it participated in the great
campaigns which, beginning with the battles around
Richmond, were continued through three years in Vir¬
ginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, until they closed at
Appomattox in a defeat which was decisive and final, and
yet as glorious to the vanquished as to the victors. In
the changes that occurred, the following are some of the
successors to the officers already named: Lieut. -Col.
C. W. McArthur, Majs. Peter Brennan and H. Tillman,
Adjt. G. C. Connor; Capts. (A) J. Y. McDuffie, (B) A. P.
McRae (killed), (C) J. A. Edmondson, (D) H. Tillman,
(E) T. M. McRae, (G) T. T. Colley. This regiment was
partly made up from the Seventh battalion Georgia
infantry.

The Sixty-second regiment Georgia volunteers organ¬
ized with the following field officers: Col. Joel R.
Griffin, Lieut. -Col. Randolph Towns, Maj John T.
Kennedy, Commissary T. Meara, Adjt. B. B. Bowers.
The captains were: (A) John P. Davis, (B) James W.
Nichols, (C) W. L. A. Ellis, (D) William H. Faucett, (E),
W. A. Thompson, (F) S. B. Jones, (G) Pat Gray, (H)
Thomas A. Jones, (I) John A. Richardson, (K) E. W.
Westbrook, (L) Theodore T. Barham. Seven companies of
this regiment united with three of the Twentieth cavalry
battalion and formed a cavalry command styled sometimes
in the reports the Sixty-second Georgia, and in the last
year of the war, the Eighth Georgia cavalry. They
served for a time in Georgia, then in North Carolina,
then in the brigade of Gen. James Dearing, at Peters¬
burg, in 1864. The Sixty-second was originally formed
in part from the Fifteenth battalion Georgia partisan
rangers. The following are some of the officers who
succeeded those first named: Lieut. -Col. John T. Ken¬
nedy, Maj. W. L. A. Ellis, Commissary W. R. Baldwin,

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

131

Adjt. W. A. Holson; Capts. (B) B. B. Bower, (D) R.
Duvall, (H) A. P. Newhart, (K) S. L. Turner. (See
also Eighth Georgia cavalry regiment and Fifteenth
Georgia battalion of cavalry.)

The Sixty- third regiment Georgia volunteers was mus¬
tered in with the following officers : Col. George A. Gor¬
don, Lieut. -Col. George R. Black, Maj. John R. Giles,
Commissary G. W. Lamar, Asst. Quartermaster C. J.
White, Adjt. J. S. Hammond. The captains were : (A)

J. V. H. Allen, (B) James T. Buckner, (C) E. J. Craven,
(D) E. H. Harrison, (E) Thad. Oliver, (F) John H.
Losser, (G) D. N. Martin, (H) H. H. Scranton, (I) C. W.
Howard, (K) William J. Dixon. Captain Allen soon
became major. This regiment was formed in December,

1862, in the following manner : The Oglethorpe artillery,
which had been the Oglethorpe infantry, Company D,
of Ramsey’s First Georgia, was detached from the
Twelfth Georgia battalion of artillery (acting as infantry
and stationed at Jacksboro, Tenn.), and being ordered
to Savannah was united with the Thirteenth infantry
(Phoenix) battalion, which had been serving on the
Georgia coast from the beginning of the war ; to these,
other detached companies were added, and the new reg¬
iment thus formed was called the Sixty-third Georgia.
The regiment served as infantry and heavy artillery at
Thunderbolt and Rosedew island, and two of its com¬
panies (B and K) at Battery Wagner near Charleston, in

1863. In May, 1864, it was ordered to Dalton. It served
in the Atlanta campaign, being particularly distinguished
at the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, where it was compli¬
mented in general orders; in the Tennessee campaign,
where with the First volunteer regiment it formed part
of the rear guard on Hood’s retreat; was consolidated in
the spring of 1865 with the Fifty-seventh and First vol¬
unteer, the united command being styled the First
Georgia, and took part in the campaign of the Carolinas
under General Johnston.

132

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

The officers of the Sixty-fourth regiment Georgia vol¬
unteers at organization were: Col. John W. Evans
(killed), Lieut.-Col. James Barrow (killed), Maj. W. H.
Weems, Asst. Quartermaster E. R. Peabody, Adjt. J. A.
Byrd; Capts. (A) John K. Redd, (B) T. J. Pritchett, (C)
N. W. Garrard, (D) George S. Thomas, (E) C. S. Jen¬
kins, (F) P. Robinson, (G) D. C. Smith, (H) S. A. Towns-
ley, (I) J. T. McClusky. This regiment served in 1863
in the district of Florida, and in February, 1864, partici¬
pated in the battle of Olustee. It was sent to Virginia
in the spring of 1864 and formed part of the force under
Beauregard that thwarted Butler’s attempt to take Peters¬
burg. It continued to serve in the trenches at Peters¬
burg, being in Mahone’s division. At the battle of the
Crater, Colonel Evans was killed and was succeeded
by Lieutenant-Colonel Weems, who had succeeded James
Barrow when he was killed in battle. Capt. C. S. Jen¬
kins thereupon became major. The only other change
recorded is that C. A. C. Walker became captain of Com¬
pany G„ The regiment surrendered at Appomattox.

The Sixty-fifth regiment Georgia volunteers was organ¬
ized with the following officers: Col. Sumner J. Smith,
Lieut.-Col. J. S. Fain, Maj. B. F. Brown, Commissary
W. A. Martin, Adjt. T. W. Alexander. The captains
were: (A) S. F. Williams, (B) Andrew H. Morris, (C)
John H. Craven, (D) W. G. Foster, (E) W. F. Thomas,
(F) A. Rudolph, (G) John W. Holmes, (H) F. M. Kit¬
chens, (I) Henry L. Smith, (K) W. W. Grant. The
Sixty-fifth, formed in part from Smith’s Georgia legion,
served in east Tennessee ; was afterward in the battles
of Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge, and participated
in the Atlanta and Tennessee campaigns. In the spring
of 1865 the Second and Eighth Georgia battalions were
consolidated with it, and it followed again the lead of
Joseph E. Johnston in the campaign of the Carolinas,
surrendering near Goldsboro. The successors to the
original officers were: Cols. John L. Fain, R. H. Moore

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY. 133

and W. G. Foster, Lieut. -Cols. R. H. Moore and J. W.
Pearce, Majs. R. H. Moore, J. W. Pearce and S. F.
Williams. Smith’s Georgia legion, which supplied the
greater part of this regiment, served in east Tennessee
and Kentucky in 1862 and the early part of 1863.

Of the Sixty-sixth Georgia regiment, the following
officers are all of whom a record has been obtained : Col.
J. C. Nisbet; Capts. A. H. Reid, Company F; G. V.
Hall, Company G, and J. Thornton, Company I. But
Capt. Thomas L. Langston is mentioned in the reports
of July and August, 1864, as ranking captain in command.
This regiment served in the Atlanta and Tennessee
campaigns, losing heavily in the battle of July 22d, at At¬
lanta, and again in the battle of Nashville, where with the
First Georgia Confederate it was led by Lieut. -Col.
James C. Gordon. In the spring of 1865 these two regi¬
ments were consolidated with the First battalion sharp¬
shooters and the Twenty-fifth, Twenty-ninth and Thir¬
tieth regiments, under the name of the First Georgia Con¬
federate battalion. Under General Johnston it partici¬
pated in the campaign of the Carolinas, laying down its
arms near Goldsboro. April 26, 1865.

The First battalion Georgia infantry, sharpshooters,
was made up of four independent companies under Maj.
Arthur Shaaf; Capts. (A) H. D, Twyman, (B) A. L.
Hartridge, (C) William H. Roes, (D) G. C. Dent. It served
on the Georgia coast through 1862 and 1863; was drilled
to act either as infantry or heavy artillery ; was distin¬
guished in the defense of Fort McAllister in the attack
upon that little fortress in February, 1863, and was sent
to the army of Tennessee in time to take part in the
battles of Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge. It par¬
ticipated in the Atlanta and Tennessee campaigns, and
in the spring of 1865, being consolidated with the First
Georgia Confederate and the Twenty- fifth, Twenty-ninth,
Thirtieth and Sixty-sixth Georgia regiments, it was
engaged in the campaign of the Carolinas. The follow

134

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

ing succeeding captains are recorded : (B) B. H. Hardee,

(D) C. T. Berwick.

The Second battalion Georgia infantry, sharpshooters:
Maj. J. J. Cox, Asst. Quartermaster Thomas B. Gower;
Capts. (A) R. H. Whiteley, (B) William H. Brown, (C)
E. W. Ansley, (D) Samuel D. Oliver, (E) O. C. Myers.
Adjt. C. P. Roberts was promoted to his position for gal¬
lantry. This gallant command participated in the Mur¬
freesboro campaign, where it won great distinction, under
the leadership of Major Cox; again in the Atlanta cam¬
paign, led by Major Whiteley, and in the Tennessee cam¬
paign, under Capt. William H. Brown. In the spring of
1865, consolidated with the Eighth battalion and the
Sixty-fifth regiment, it participated in the campaign of the
Carolinas in which General Johnston was again in com¬
mand of the army, whose love and esteem he had gained in
the Atlanta campaign. Capt. R. H. Whiteley became
major ; C. F. George, captain of Company A, and M. G.
Hester of Company G.

The Second battalion Georgia infantry (Hardeman’s)
during the Appomattox campaign was commanded by
Maj. Charles J. Moffit, formerly captain of Company A.
George W. Ross preceded Moffit as major, W. T. Ross
became captain of Company A, W. F. Walker of Com¬
pany B, and C. R. Redding of Company C.

The Third battalion Georgia infantry, sharpshooters,
was organized with the following field officers: Lieut. -
Col. L. N. Hutchins, Maj. H. H. Smith, Adjt. R. J.
Davant, Asst. Quartermaster J. P. Phillips. The cap¬
tains were: (A) Wm. M. Crumley, (B) Garnet McMillan (C)
W. E. Simmons, (E) J. F. Martin. This battalion after
being sent to Virginia was assigned to Wofford’s brigade.
After Gettysburg it accompanied Longstreet to Georgia
and was engaged in the East Tennessee campaign under
that general. It nobly illustrated Georgia during the
Overland campaign of 1864, and in the battles, skir¬
mishes and hardships of the trenches through the long

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

135

weary months of the fall and winter following, and par¬
ticipated in the campaign which closed at Appomattox.
Some of the successors to the officers at organization
were Adjts. J. H. Williams and P. E. Savans, Capts. (B)
John W. King and F. E. Ross, (C) W. I. Anderson and
N. E. Gober.

The officers of the Fourth battalion Georgia infantry,
as far as they are recorded, were: Lieut. -Col. W. H. Stiles,
Maj. Thomas J. Berry, Asst. Quartermaster D. N.
Speer, Commissary R. H. Cannon, Surg. E. N. Cal¬
houn, Capt. (H) M. A. Leake. This battalion served
with distinction at Hilton Head and afterward was
merged in the Sixtieth regiment, which see for the his¬
tory of its campaigns.

The roster of the Fourth battalion Georgia infantry,
sharpshooters, is very imperfect. As far as can be ascer¬
tained it is as follows: Capts. (A) S. M. Jackson, (B)
W. M. Carter, (C) B. M. Turner, Ensign E. W. Collins.
This battalion served in the following campaigns : Chick-
amauga, Missionary Ridge, Tennessee and the Carolinas,
being then consolidated with the Thirty- seventh and
Fifty-fourth regiments. It did its duty well on every
field.

The Fifth battalion Georgia infantry: Maj. G. M.
Gunnels, Capts. (A) W. G. Rice and G. M. Gunnels, (B)
John G. Williams, (C) J. J. Shumate.

The Seventh battalion Georgia infantry, which was
consolidated with the Sixty-first regiment, had at first
the following officers : Lieut. -Col. Charles A. L. Lamar,
Maj. John H. Lamar, who became lieutenant-colonel.
This battalion served for a time on the Georgia coast.
As it was merged in the Sixty-first Georgia, its cam¬
paigns are included in the sketch of that regiment.

The Eighth battalion Georgia infantry had at its
organization the following officers: Lieut. -Col. J. T.
Reid, Maj. B. F. Hunt, Asst. Quartermaster H. S.
Cranford, Adjt. J. W. Gray, Capts. (A) H. M. Lumpkin,

136

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

(B) M. Y. Sexton, (C) William Holsonback, (D) Z. L.
Walters, (E) John A. Hopper, (F) L. N. Jackson, (G)
T. J. Paxton. The battalion served in 1862 in the depart¬
ment of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Fifty men
of the battalion under Lieuts. R. Hays and George John¬
son were engaged in an affair on Stono river near Charles¬
ton, in which a Federal gunboat which had ventured past
the Confederate batteries was cut off and forced to sur¬
render. In May, 1863, the battalion went with Gist’s
brigade to Jackson, Miss., to reinforce Gen. J. E. John¬
ston, who was gathering an army with which to attempt
the relief of Vicksburg. After the campaign in north
Mississippi, the battalion participated in the campaigns of
Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Atlanta and Nashville,
and in the spring of 1865, after being consolidated with
the Second battalion sharpshooters and the Sixty-fifth regi¬
ment, it served in the Carolinas, surrendering with John¬
ston at Goldsboro. The following officers succeeded those
first named: Lieut.-Cols. A. Littlefield, Leroy Napier
and Z. L. Watters, the last named commanding Gist’s
brigade at the battle of Nashville; Capts. (D) J. A. Har¬
din, (E) John A. Penn, (F) J. W. Boaz.

The Ninth battalion Georgia volunteers had at first the
following officers: Maj. J. T. Smith; Capts. (A) J. G.
McMullen, (B) D. L. Gholson, (C) D. C. Young, (D) G.
Eberhart, (E) S. G. Pettus. This battalion was sent to
east Tennessee in April, 1862, and served in that depart¬
ment and in the campaign into Kentucky. Returning to
Tennessee it participated in the battle of Murfreesboro,
after which it was united with the Third battalion to
form the Thirty-seventh regiment, to which reference is
made for a further sketch of this fine body of troops.

The Tenth battalion Georgia infantry had at first
the following officers: Maj. John E. Rylander (killed),
Ensign William C. Tinsley, Asst. Quartermaster J. W.
Whitehead; Capts. (A) Jas. D. Frederick, (B) Dan Hen¬
derson, (C) B. F. Bell, (D) William L. Jones, (E) John L.

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY. 137

Adderton. Captain Frederick became major. This bat¬
talion served on the Georgia coast in 1862, also at Macon
guarding prisoners and stores. Ordered to Virginia
November 1st, it reached that State about two weeks
after the battle of Fredericksburg. It served in North
Carolina for a time, then in the Richmond campaign of
1864. It was also one of the commands with the army of
Northern Virginia at Appomattox.

The Eleventh battalion Georgia infantry at its organ¬
ization was commanded by Lieut. -Col. G. W. M. Wil¬
liams. The captains were : (A) William S. Phillips, (B)
Pat Gormley, (C) James H. Latimer, (D) Philip G. Tip-
pins, (E) A. C. Edwards, (F) John D. Ashton, (G) Isaac
M. Aiken, (H) Wm. W. Williams, (I) M. J. Doyle. This
battalion served in 1862 on the Georgia coast. It was
increased to a regiment by the addition of another com¬
pany, and under the name of the Forty-seventh was sent
to the army of Tennessee. For further particulars of its
history see the Forty-seventh.

The Twelfth battalion Georgia infantry was organ¬
ized as an artillery battalion, composed of four companies
from Ramsey’s First infantry, for the original names
of which consult the sketch of that regiment. After
serving under Kirby Smith for six months (three com¬
panies as infantry and one, Hanvey’s, going into Ken¬
tucky as artillery), it was ordered to the department of
South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Hanvey’s com¬
pany rejoined it at that time, while J. V. H. Allen’s com¬
pany (A), which had preceded it to Georgia, was, with
some new companies, added to the Thirteenth battalion
to form the Sixty-third regiment. On the coast the
Twelfth battalion served both as infantry and heavy artil¬
lery. A detachment of the battalion served at Battery
Wagner, and in October the battalion under Major Han-
vey served at Fort Sumter. In May, 1864, it went to
Virginia as an infantry battalion with the following offi¬
cers: Lieut. -Col. H. D. Capers, Maj. G. M. Hanvey,

Ga 18

138

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

Asst. Quartermaster Ker Boyce, Adjt. F. W. Baker
(killed); Capts. (B) J. W. Rudisill, (C) Samuel H.
Crump, (D) George W. Johnson, (E) J. J. Newsome, (F)
George M. Hood. In Virginia it was assigned at once to
Evans’ Georgia brigade, and shared in the Overland
campaign which ended with the bloody defeat of Grant
at Cold Harbor. It marched with the brigade in Early’s
Lynchburg, Valley and Maryland campaigns, participat¬
ing gallantly in all battles. Returning to Richmond in
December, it remained in Evans’ division of Gordon’s
corps at Petersburg, and was present at the closing scene
at Appomattox. Although this battalion served as infan¬
try all through the Virginia campaign, it appears every¬
where in the records as the Twelfth battalion of artillery.
Among the changes in officers, we note the following:
Samuel H. Crump, who had been captain of Company C,
but had gone to the army of Tennessee on Gen. W. H. T.
Walker’s staff with the rank of major, after the death of
that officer returned to the battalion as major. Edward

C. Clayton was adjutant and was killed in battle. Joseph
H. Taliaferro became captain of Company C, and J. W.
Anderson of Company D.

The Thirteenth battalion Georgia infantry had for
its officers at organization: Maj. George A. Gordon,
Adjt. L. T. Mallory, Commissary W. J. Neville, Surg.
J. B. Read; Capts. (A) George R. Black, (B) John R.
Giles, (C) James T. Buckner. This battalion served on
the Georgia coast. In December, 1862, it united with the
Oglethorpe artillery from the Twelfth battalion and six
other companies to form the Sixty-third regiment, whose
sketch has been already given.

The Seventeenth battalion Georgia infantry had the
following officers: Maj. Joseph T. Smith, Asst. Quar¬
termaster T. C. Burch; Capts. (A) J. G. McMullin, (B)

D. L. Gholson, (C) D. C. Young, (D) George Eberhart,
(E) S. G. Pettus. This battalion is the same as the Ninth,
and went to form the Thirty-seventh infantry.

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

139

The Eighteenth battalion Georgia infantry at its
organization had the following officers: Maj. John Scre¬
ven, Asst. Quartermaster R. H. Footman, Adjt. E. P.
Stair; Capts. (A) W. L. Basinger, (B) G. W. Stiles, (C)
G. C. Rice. This was made up from the Savannah Vol¬
unteer Guards battalion, one of the “crack” commands
of the State before the war. It served in 1862 on the
Georgia coast. In July, 1862, a detachment from this
battalion, with detachments from the First volunteers,
Sixty-third regiment and Twelfth battalion, formed
part of the garrison of Battery Wagner. In May, 1864,
as before stated, the Twelfth battalion was ordered to Vir¬
ginia and assigned to Evans’ brigade.

Smith’s Georgia legion (see Sixty-fifth regiment), or
partisan rangers, was organized with the following offi¬
cers: Col. Sumner J. Smith, Lieut. -Col. John R. Hart,
Maj. B. F. Brown, Adjt. B. F. Chastain, Asst. Surg.
B. P. White, Asst. Quartermaster Jas. W. Langston;
Cavalry, Capts. (A) G. W. Standridge, (B) T. C. Fain,
(C) W. F. Thomas, (D) S. M. Ralston, (E) L. Harlow,
(F) S. Anderson, (G) John R. Hart, (H) A. Rudolph;
Infantry, Capts. (A) Jacob W. Pearce, (B) Samuel F. Wil¬
liams, (C) A. H. Morris, (D) John H. Craven, (E) Ben
G. Grant, (F) Wm. G. Foster. This legion participated
in the East Tennessee and Kentucky campaigns of 1862,
and was in the department of East Tennessee until just
before the battle of Chickamauga, when its infantry com¬
panies were taken to form the greater part of the Sixty-
fifth Georgia, while the cavalry companies were the main
component of Col. John R. Hart’s Sixth Georgia cavalry
regiment. The following are some of the officers who
succeeded the first named: Lieut. -Col. John S. Fain,
Maj. Robert H. Moore, Adjt. James M. Gartrell, Asst.
Surg. John W. Farrell, Asst. Quartermaster C. M. Bale.
Cavalry Capts. (B) T. C. Fain, (E) J. T. Burns, (G) A. F.
Ball, (H) James Harlow. After the middle of the sum-

140

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

mer of 1863, the history of the legion is found in that of
the Sixty-fifth infantry and the Sixth cavalry.

The Thomas Georgia legion served in east Tennessee
and southwest Virginia.

Wright’s Georgia legion had the following field officers:
Col. A. R. Wright, Lieut. -Col. G. W. Lee, Maj. Lewis
J. Parr. This legion and the Twenty-fifth battalion of
infantry united to form the Thirty-eighth regiment, the
sketch of which has already been given.

STATE GUARDS AND RESERVES.

In the Stephens battalion Georgia State guards, the
captains were (E) H. D. Burnan, (F) Wm. H. Sworm,
(G) R. Walden. Linton Stephens became captain of
Company E, and J. A. Shivers of Company F.

The First battalion Georgia reserves was commanded
by Maj. W. R. Symons. The captains were : (A) J. M.

Dye and W. H. C. Mills, (B) J. Cunningham, (C) Wm.
M. Davidson, (D) J. B. Hussey, (E) A. Morrison, (F) B.
Millican, (G) R. A. Peeples, (H) W. C. Allen. This
command served in Georgia, especially in the Savannah
campaign after the fall of Atlanta.

The First regiment Georgia reserves, Col. J. H.
Fannin; Capts. (A) W. B. Wood, (B) G. A. Hall, (C) E.
Baker, (D) J. C. Thornton, (E) J. H. Grant, (F) G. W.
Austin, (G) W. H. Hartnett, (H) J. H. Powell, (I) J.
Whately, (K) J. D. Watson, served during the campaign
of 1864, especially in the defense of Savannah during
Sherman’s march to the sea.

The First battalion Georgia reserves, “Augusta fire
brigade,” was commanded by Lieut. -Col. C. A. Platt,
Maj. C. B. Day. The captains were : (A) C. W. Hersey,(B)
J. D. Butt, (C) C. B. Day, (D) J. Henry, (E) J. C. Moore,
(F) J. W. Adams.

The Atlanta Fire battalion, Lieut. -Col. G. W. Lee,
Maj. J. H. McCaslin, was composed of the companies of
Captl (A) J. Sladelman, (B) L. Richardson, (C) J. A.

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

141

Taylor, (D) J. T. Banks, (E) P. Brown, (F) T. P. Flem¬
ming, (G) S. B. Love, (H) S. P. Bassett.

The Georgia State guards, Col. J. G. Yeiser, Lieut. -
Col. J. R. Freeman, Maj. T. W. Alexander, included
the companies of Capts. (A) J. H. Lawrence, (B) J.
Trout, (C) S. D. Wragg, (D) A. A. Terhune, (E) M. L.
Troutman, (F) J. Taliaferro, (G) H. F. Wimberly, (H)

S. A. Bordoers, (I) D. B. Dean, (K) C. O. Stillwell.

Of the Second regiment Georgia reserves, the officers
were Col. R. F. Maddox; Capts. (A) S. Chamberlain,
(B) R. Adams, (C) E. Holcombe, (D) T. C. Jackson, (E)
J. F. McCloskey, (F) M. Richardson, (G) E. M. Donehoe,
(H) C. M. Jones and N. Clay, (I) S. S. Fears, (K) J. R.
Mehaffey. This regiment was especially engaged in the
defense of Savannah during the march of Sherman to the
sea after the fall of Atlanta.

The officers of the Third Georgia reserves were Col.
E. J. Harris, Lieut. -Col. J. S. Moore, Maj. J. B. Griffin,
Adjt. S. D. Martin; Capts. (A) J. A. McManus, (B) C. D.
Amos, (C) W. F. Scott, (D) T. P. Lloyd, (E) N. Miller,
(F) O. Cromwell, (G) S. D. Nutt, (H) S. E. Glass, (I)

T. H. Hodgkiss, (K) G. A. Cunningham. This regiment
also was engaged in the campaign in defense of Savannah
under the command of Lieut. -Gen. W. J. Hardee.

The Fourth Georgia reserves had the following officers :
Col. R. S. Taylor, Lieut. -Col. A. D. Candler, Maj. J. H.
Bush, Adjt. W. T. Florence; Capts. (A) G. S. Peavy, (B)
J. M. B. Carlton; (C) J. P. Hudson, (D) R. T. Bowie, (E)

B. D. Johnson, (F) A. C. Allen, (G) J. C. Jordan, (H)
R. C. Saxon, (I) T. L. Anderson, (K) M. A. Adams.
The service of this regiment was chiefly in defense of
Savannah in the latter part of 1864.

The Fifth Georgia reserves was officered as follows:
Col. J. B. Cumming, Lieut. -Col. C. D. Findley, Maj.

C. E. McGregor, Adjt. O. T. Thweatt; Capts. (A) M. R.
Freeman, (B) B. D. Lumsden, (C) B. Whiddon,, (D) W.
Paine, (E) W. A. Cobb, (F) J. C. Jarrett, (G) C.

r

142

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

Clarke, (H) W. M. Gunn, (I) W. P. Mobley, (K) W. H.
Lawson. This regiment participated in the defense of
Savannah by Hardee in December, 1864. A large pro¬
portion of the officers and men in all the reserve regi¬
ments and battalions were exempts from the regular
Confederate service, many of them having been honora¬
bly discharged on account of wounds or failing health ;
many others were employes in government workshops,
and some were State and county officers, while still others
were either too old or too young for the regular service.

Other companies of Georgia infantry were commanded
by Capts. A. C. Davenport, John B. Hussey, W. H.
Banks, E. R. Whitley, A. Boward, C. S. Jenkins, P. Rob¬
inson, S. M. Ralston, D. Crum, D. C. Smith, E. T. Cul¬
lens, J. R. Hart, Wm. A. Carswell, G. Lumpkin, J. F.
Cooper, W. S. Dubose, J. T. McClusky, N. J. Macarthy,
W. S. Goodwin, E. Richards, C. H. Way, W. A. Adams,
T. A. Skelton, J. R. Cumming, J. Hill, Jr., W. C.
Thornton.

During the siege of Atlanta the following commands
of Georgia State troops participated: First brigade,
Brig. -Gen. R. W. Carswell — First regiment, Col. E. H.
Pottle; Second regiment, Col. C. D. Anderson; Fifth
regiment, Col. S. S. Stafford; First battalion, Lieut. -Col.
H. K. McCoy. Second brigade, Brig. -Gen. P. J. Phillips
— Third regiment, Col. Q. M. Hill; Fourth regiment,
Col. R. McMillan; Sixth regiment, Col. J. W. Burney;
artillery battalion, Col. C. W. Styles. Third brigade,
Brig. -Gen. C. D. Anderson; Fourth brigade, Brig. -Gen.
H. K. McKay. The regiments composing the last two
brigades are not given in the official records.

THE ARTILLERY.

The Ninth battalion Georgia artillery had the follow¬
ing officers at its organization: Maj. A. Leyden, Adjt.
G. A. Lofton, Asst. Quartermaster J. W. Brown, Surg.
N. A. D’Alvigny; Capts. (A) Elias Holcombe, (B)

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY. 143

Wm. W. Sentell, (C) George W. Atkinson, (D) T. M.
Peeples, (E) B. F. Wyley. This fine body of troops was
at first in Georgia, and in December, 1862, was ordered to
east Tennessee to report to Gen. Humphrey Marshall.
It served in that department, being part of the time in
southeast Kentucky and southwest Virginia. It was in
the campaign around Chattanooga in September and
October, 1863, and with Longstreet in the Knoxville
campaign. A portion of it served in southwest Virginia
in 1864, and a part of the battalion did duty in the
defense of Richmond in the fall of 1864-65 and during
the final campaign in the spring of 1865. Some of the
successors to its first officers were: Capts. (B) H. P.
Randall, (C) A. M. Wolihin, (E) B. W. York.

The Eleventh battalion Georgia artillery had the
following officers: Lieut. -Col. Allen S. Cutts, Maj.
John Lane, Asst. Quartermaster Thomas H. Johnston;
Capts. (A) H. M. Ross, (B) G. M. Patterson and John V.
Price, (C) Charles P. Crawford, (D) James A. Black-
shear, (E) John T. Wingfield and later John Lane, who
subsequently became major. In 1861 Capt. Allen S.
Cutts went to Virginia in command of the Sumter Flying
artillery. At Dranesville Gen. J. E. B. Stuart called
him the “brave, true, heroic’’ Cutts. He was promoted
major and other batteries added to his command.
H. M. Ross became captain of his old company and the
name Sumter artillery was applied to the whole battalion.
Cutts was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and John Lane,
who had been captain of Company C, was made major.
The battalion was distinguished in all the campaigns of
the army of Northern Virginia, around Richmond, in
north Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and the cam¬
paign against Grant, closing with Appomattox.

The Twelfth Georgia battalion of artillery had the fol¬
lowing officers: Lieut. -Col. H. D. Capers, Majs. G. M.
Hanvey and S. H. Crump, Adjts. F. W. Baker (killed)
and E. F. Clayton (killed), Asst. Quartermaster Ker

144

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

Boyce; Capts. (A) J. W. Anderson, (B) J. W. Rudisill,
(C) G. W. Johnson, (D) J. N. Taliaferro, (E) J. J. New-
some, (F) G. M. Hood. This battalion served both as
infantry and artillery. During the last year of the war
it served almost entirely as infantry in Evans’ brigade,
Gordon’s division. For its full history see the sketch of
Ramsey’s First Georgia, and also that of the Twelfth
Georgia battalion among the infantry commands.

The Fourteenth Georgia battalion of artillery had the
following officers: Lieut. -Col. J. T. Montgomery, Maj.
Joseph Palmer, Adjt. J. H. Cox, Commissary C. T. Swift,
Capts. (A) J. Palmer, (B) Thomas H. Dawson, (C) C. B.
Ferrell, (D) E. R. King, (E) Franklin Roberts, (F) S. A.
Moses, (H) James G. Gibson. This battalion served in
east Tennessee during 1862. The different companies of
the battalion served at times on distant fields of duty, in
Tennessee, in north Mississippi and in Georgia. For
instance, while R. Anderson’s (formerly Thomas
A. Dawson’s) battery was in Georgia during the
Atlanta campaign, Ferrell’s battery was in north Missis¬
sippi under Roddey. The battalion did good and faithful
service wherever called upon.

The Eighteenth Georgia battalion, heavy artillery,
served chiefly in Virginia in the defense of Richmond,
doing its best service in the campaign of 1864.

The Twenty-second Georgia battalion, siege artillery,
had for officers the following: Lieut. -Col. Wm. R.
Pritchard, Maj. John B. Gallie (killed), Adjt. J. J. Sy¬
mons, Asst. Quartermaster H. R. Washburn; Capts. (A)
T. D. Bertody, (B) M. J. McMullan, (C) John Lamar, (D)
Richard J. Nunn, (E) C. Hussey, (F) George A. Nich¬
ols, (G) F. T. Cullens, (H) R. A. Tumipseed. This bat¬
talion served as heavy artillery on the Georgia coast, and
after the fall of Savannah in December, 1864, was in the
campaign of the Carolinas, surrendering with Gen.
Joseph E. Johnston. Some of the changes in its officers
were as follows: Majs. M. J. McMullan and T. D. Ber-

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

145

tody, Adjt. H. Symons, Asst. Quartermaster E. J. Daw¬
son; Capts. (A) J. M. Cambell and G. R. Niles, (B)
D. A. Smith, (C) J. A. Beals and J. B. Gallie, (D)
J. Manning, (E) L. J. Guilmartin, (F) A. Bonaud.

The Twenty-eighth Georgia battalion of artillery, Maj.
A. Bonaud, was composed of the companies of Capts. (A)
J. A. Cotton, (B) L. B. Fielding, (C) C. P. Crawford,
(D) G. Wilcher, (E) M. T. McGregor, (F) J. R. Blount,
(G) J. D. Goodwin, (H) T. J. Key, (I) R. F. Bishop. It
served in the department of South Carolina, Georgia and
Florida, being for a long time in middle Florida, and
was one of the commands which participated in the bat¬
tle of Olustee. In the spring of 1864, it was sent to Vir¬
ginia, where it served with distinction to the closing scene
at Appomattox. A part of this battalion was at Savan¬
nah during Sherman’s march to the sea and the siege of
that city in December, 1864.

The Cherokee Light Artillery, Capts. M. V. D. Corput
and John G. Yeiser, was one of the famous batteries of
the Western army. It was sent to east Tennessee in
1861; served in that department and in Kentucky in
1862; was in Mississippi in 1863, being highly compli¬
mented for its part in the battle of Baker’s Creek and
the siege of Vicksburg, and participated in the battle of
Missionary Ridge and the Atlanta and Tennessee cam¬
paigns.

White’s Artillery was commanded by Capt. B. F. White.

The Terrell Light Artillery, Capts. E. J. Dawson and
John W. Brooks, served in the department of South
Carolina, Georgia and Florida and was part of the force
engaged in the defense of Savannah in December, 1864.
It participated in the campaign of the Carolinas which
closed with the capitulation of Johnston, April 26, 1865.

The Columbus Light Artillery, Capt. Edward Croft,
served in Tennessee and north Mississippi. It was at
Jackson in the army of Gen. J. E. Johnston; served in
the Meridian campaign in 1864, and through the summer

Ga 19

146

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

in Forrest’s command, accompanying that famous soldier
into Tennessee during the Hood campaign.

The Campbell Siege Artillery, Capt. C. G. Campbell,
served on the Georgia coast ; assisted in the defense of
Savannah in December, 1864; also served for a time in
the district of middle Florida.

The Chestatee Artillery, under Capt. T. H. Bomar,
served for some time near Charleston, taking a prominent
part in the defense of Battery Bee and Morris island. In
1864 it was assigned to the army of Northern Virginia,
where it did good service to the end.

Martin’s Light Artillery, commanded by Capt. Robert
Martin, saw service in Tennessee, north Mississippi and
north Georgia. It bore itself gallantly on every field,
being especially distinguished at Jackson, Miss., at Chick -
amauga and through the Atlanta campaign, in the last
being known as Howell’s battery, from its commander,
Capt. Evan P. Howell, who succeeded Captain Martin
upon the latter’s promotion to the rank of major, and
gallantly led the command through the remainder of its
honorable career.

The Jackson Artillery, Capt. G. A. Dure, served in
east Tennessee and then with Bragg in middle Tennes¬
see, being engaged in the battle of Murfreesboro, then
in the Chattanooga campaign of 1863, and in the Atlanta
campaign of 1864.

Daniels’ Light Artillery, so called from its captain, C.
Daniels, served in the department of South Carolina,
Georgia and Florida, and formed part of the army with
which General Hardee attempted to defend the city of
Savannah in December, 1864.

The Thompson Artillery, commanded first by Capt.
C. R. Hanleiter, afterward by Capt. L. J. Parr, was
another one of the batteries serving on the Georgia coast,
which participated in the defense of Savannah in Decem¬
ber, 1864.

Pritchard’s Artillery, under Capt. E. E. Pritchard,

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

147

served in the army of Tennessee. It participated in the
marches of that army, being prominently mentioned at
the battle of Murfreesboro, and in the subsequent cam¬
paign in Tennessee.

The Maxwell Artillery, Capt. J. A. Maxwell, served on
the Georgia coast, and was engaged in the operations
around Savannah in December, 1864.

The Macon Light Artillery, Capts. H. N. Ells and
G. W. Slaten successively, did the greater part of its serv¬
ice in Virginia. After being engaged at Fredericksburg
it was sent into North Carolina. Then in the spring of
1864 it returned to Virginia and was constantly engaged
on the Richmond and Petersburg lines until the evacua¬
tion of those cities, ending its career at Appomattox.

Scogin’s Light Artillery, or the Griffin Light Artillery,
was commanded by Capts. John Scogin and O. C. Gib¬
son successively. This battery served in the army of
Tennessee in some of its most important campaigns in
that State, and in Georgia throughout the Atlanta cam¬
paign.

Of the Oglethorpe Siege Artillery the captains were :
(A) J. Lamar, (B) Richard J. Nunn, (B) G. F. Oliver.
This command was merged in the Twenty-second Geor¬
gia battalion.

The captains of the Pulaski Artillery were J. P. W.
Read and J. C. Fraser. This battery served with dis¬
tinction in most of the great battles of the army of Vir¬
ginia until after Fredericksburg, under Read, and after¬
ward under Fraser.

The Clinch Artillery, commanded by Capt. N. B.
Clinch, served on the Georgia coast and participated in the
defense of Savannah under Hardee in December, 1864.
The same is true of the battery known as the Mercer
Artillery, commanded by Capt. A. J. Macarthy.

The Troup Artillery was commanded by Captain Stan¬
ley, and after the Seven Days’ battles by Capt. H. H.
Carlton. It participated in nearly all the great battles of

148 CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

the army of Northern Virginia, and gained special
distinction.

The Echols Light Artillery, under Capt. John H. Til¬
ler, served on the Georgia coast. Barnwell’s Light Artil¬
lery, under Capt. A. Smith Barnwell, was on duty in the
same field and was part of Hardee’s army during the
siege of Savannah.

The Bartow Artillery, under Capts. T. D. Bertody and
A. C. Dunn, formed a part of the Twenty-second Georgia
battalion, the sketch of which has already been given.

The Massenburg battery, commanded by Capts. T. E.
Massenburg and G. G. Dure, served for a time in the
army of Tennessee, then was sent to Mobile and partici¬
pated in the final operations about that city. Palmer’s
Artillery was commanded by Capts. M. W. Harris,
R. W. Anderson and J. H. Yates.

Capt. John Milledge’s battery had the honor of taking
part in all the campaigns of the army of Northern Vir¬
ginia from Seven Pines to Appomattox, making a record
which gave the battery great fame throughout the army.

The Chatham Artillery, under Capts. J. F. Wheaton and
J. S. Claghorn in succession, served in the department of
South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. It participated in
the defense of Battery Wagner at Charleston, in the
battle of Olustee in Florida, in the defense of Savannah
in December, 1864, and in the campaign of the Carolinas
in 1865.

Girardey’s battery, under Capt. I. P. Girardey, served
at Pensacola, then went with Bragg to Mississippi and
was conspicuous in the battle of Shiloh.

Howell’s battery, Capt. Evan P. Howell — see Martin’s
battery.

THE GEORGIA CAVALRY.

The First Georgia cavalry regiment was organized
with the following officers: Col. J. J. Morrison, Lieut. -
Col. A. R. Harper, Maj. S. W. Davitt, Adjt. John N.

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

149

Perkins; Capts. (A) W. M. Hutchings, (B) J. H.
Strickland, (C) M. H. Haynie, (D) R. Trammell, (E)
I. M. Blalock, (F) V. J. Reynolds, (G) J. L. Kerr, (H)
William M. Tumlin, (I) I. F. Leak, (K) H. A. North.
Maj. S. W. Davitt became colonel of this regiment. It
was sent to east Tennessee in 1861. In July, 1862, be¬
fore Bragg entered upon his campaign into Kentucky, it
participated in the brilliant cavalry victory of Forrest at
Murfreesboro, forming in connection with the Second
Georgia cavalry the greater part of the Confederate force
on that occasion. This regiment participated in the
Murfreesboro, Chickamauga and Knoxville campaigns.
It also bore an honorable part in the Atlanta campaign
of 1864, and in the final campaign of the Carolinas.

The Second Georgia cavalry regiment had at first the
following officers : Col. W. J. Lawton, Lieut. -Col. Arthur
Hood, Maj. C. A. Whaley, Adjt. R. F. Lawton; Capts.
(A) G. C. Looney, (B) W. J. Lawton, (C) Charles C.
Crews, (D) O. Winningham, (E) F. M. Ison, (F) Thomas
H. Jordon, (G) W. D. Grant, (H) W. H. Chapman, (I)
James W. Mayo, (K) J. C. Dunlop. This regiment was,
like the First Georgia cavalry, with Forrest at Murfrees¬
boro in July, 1862. It participated subsequently in the
Murfreesboro, Chickamauga and Knoxville campaigns;
also in the Atlanta campaign in Wheeler’s corps ; fought
in Sherman’s front on the march to the sea, and finally
in the campaign of the Carolinas. The following are
some of the officers who succeeded those named above :
Cols. Arthur Hood and C. C. Crews, Lieut. -Cols. J. C.
Dunlop and F. M. Ison.

The Third Georgia cavalry regiment was organized
with Col. Martin J. Crawford, Lieut. -Col. R. E. Kennon,
Maj. H. H. Johnston, Adjt. I. P. L. Mudar; Capts. (A)
W. R. Thompson, (B) Beverly A. Thornton, (C) J. H.
Persons, (D) R. E. Kennon, (E) J. T. Thornton, (F)
James A. Fowler, (H) D. F. Booten, (I) D. H. Collins,
(K) A. R. Hughes. This regiment was with Wheeler

150

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

in 1862, and went with him into Kentucky. It made a
fine record, but in September a large part of the com¬
mand was surprised and captured. A detachment of the
regiment served with Wheeler at Murfreesboro, at the
close of 1862, and after those captured in September had
been exchanged, the regiment took part in the campaigns
of Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Atlanta and
subsequent movements in Georgia, ending its service
with the final campaign in the Carolinas. Some of the
officers who succeeded those at the organization were:
Cols. R. E. Kennon and W. R. Thompson, Capts. (B)
W. J. Underwood, (I) John W. Hart.

The Fourth Georgia cavalry had the following
officers: Col. Isaac W. Avery, Lieut. -Col. W. L. Cook,
Maj. D. J. Owen (later J. R. Stewart), Adjt. B. H. New¬
ton (later J. W. Ramsey), Asst. Quartermaster William
K. Moore, Commissary Joseph M. Stones; Capts. (A)
R. A. Keith (killed), (B) G. B. May, (C) Jeff Johnson,
(D) William J. Rogers, (E) Olin Wellborn and B. C.
Wooddail, (F) C. D. McCutchen, Joseph E. Helvingstone
(killed) and F. G. Horn, (G) William R. Logan and
R. E. Kingsley, (H) G. H. Graham, (I, formerly I. W.
Avery’s company) D. J. Owen and H. H. Burke, (K)
J. R. Stewart, (L) L. B. Anderson, (M) John D. Ashton.
Colonel Avery early in the war organized a company
called the Mountain Dragoons, went as its captain to
Pensacola and led it in the campaign of Shiloh. With
this company as a nucleus the Twenty-third cavalry bat¬
talion was formed, with Avery as lieutenant-colonel, and
then on this battalion as a basis the Fourth Georgia cav¬
alry was organized, with Avery as colonel. The regiment,
composed in great part of troops that had already seen
service, participated in the Chickamauga and Knoxville
campaigns; in Wheeler’s corps served through the marches
and battles of the Atlanta campaign; after the fall of
that city remained with Wheeler and shared in his efforts
to save as much as possible from the ravages of Sher-

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

151

man’s cavalry and bummers. On the 30th of January,
1865, ten companies formed the Twelfth Georgia cavalry,
and the extra companies were assigned to duty with
other commands. Under its new name it shared in the
campaign of the Carolinas.

There were two Fourth Georgia cavalry regiments, the
second of which had the following officers: Col. Duncan
L. Clinch, Lieut. -Col. John L. Harris, Maj. J. C. Mc¬
Donald; Capts. (A) J. S. Wiggins, (B) W. M. Hazzard,
(C) N. A. Brown, (D) John Raddick, (E) R. N. King,
(F) J. P. Turner, (G) A. McMillan, (H) T. S. Wylley,
(I) J. C. Nichols, (K) D. Crum. This regiment served on
the Georgia coast in 1862 and 1863. In the spring of
1864 it was sent to the army of Tennessee and assigned
to Wheeler’s cavalry corps. It served through the At¬
lanta campaign and the subsequent movements in
Georgia; in the spring of 1865 participated in the cam¬
paign of the Carolinas, surrendering at Goldsboro.

The Fifth Georgia cavalry regiment had the following
officers: Col. Robert H. Anderson, Lieut. -Col. Edward
Bird, Maj. R. J. Davant, Commissary G. S. Barthelmess,
Asst. Quartermaster T. B. Gowan; Capts. (A) O. C.
Hopkins, (B) W. A. Wiltberger, (C) R. F. Akin, (D)
J. M. Marsh, (E) M. N. Call, (G) G. B. Beste, (H) W. L.
Walthour, (I) W. Brailsford, (K) H. L. Strother. This
regiment was formed from Anderson’s First cavalry bat¬
talion and Bird’s Second battalion. It served on the
Georgia coast in 1862; in the spring of 1863 was sent to
Mississippi, and in the spring of 1864 was placed in
Wheeler’s cavalry corps of the army of Tennessee. It
served through the Atlanta campaign and subsequently
in Georgia, and in the spring of 1865 took an active part
in the campaign of the Carolinas. During this last cam¬
paign it was led by Col. Edward Bird.

The Sixth Georgia cavalry was at first a part of Smith’s
Georgia legion, of which Sumner J. Smith was colonel
and John R. Hart, lieutenant-colonel. This legion par-

152

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

ticipated in the Knoxville and Kentucky campaigns of
1862, and then in the campaign in middle Tennessee.
When the infantry companies were taken to help form
the Sixty-fifth regiment, the cavalry companies, united
with others, formed the Sixth cavalry, which served in
the campaign in middle Tennessee, in the Dalton-Atlanta
campaign, and in the campaign of the Carolinas in the
spring of 1865. The field officers of the Sixth were: Col.
John R. Hart, Lieut. -Cols. B. F. Brown and J. C. Fain,
Maj. J. C. Fain, Asst. Quartermaster T. W. Fulton,
Adjt. B. F. Chastain. For further information about
this regiment, see Smith’s Georgia legion.

The Seventh Georgia cavalry regiment was organized
with the following officers: Col. W. P. White (died),
Lieut. -Col. J. L. McAllister (killed), Maj. E. C. Ander¬
son; Capts. (A) W. D. Russell, (B) A. R. Miller, (C)
J. N. Davis, (D) R. H. Wylley, (E) H. K. Harrison, (F)
R. F. Jones, (G) F. W. Hopkins, (H) H. Hines, (I) J. W.
Brumby, (K) L. S. Quarterman. This command was
formed from the Twenty-first cavalry battalion, which
served with great credit on the South Carolina coast in
1862 and 1863, and the Twenty fourth battalion, which
served on the Georgia coast. The battalions having
been united in the Seventh regiment, served under
Wade Hampton in Virginia. At the battle of Trevilian
Station in May, 1864, its losses were very heavy; Lieu¬
tenant-Colonel McAllister was killed, Capt. Whiteford
D. Russell, acting as major, was mortally wounded, and
Major Anderson disabled by a wound. During the
siege of Savannah in December, 1864, this regiment, com¬
manded by Colonel Anderson, formed part of the army
under Hardee. Some of the successors to the officers
named in the organization were: Maj. John T. Davis,
Capts. (A) E. W. Moise, (B) L. J. Smith, (C) F. E.
Burke, W. E. Cropp and E. C. Anderson, (D) J. H.
Sykes and P. A. L. Morris, (E) F. Beasley, (F) J. R.
Johnson and C. C. Bowen, (G) T. S. Hopkins, (H) J. L.

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

153

McAllister, (I) F. G. Pitt, (K) L. W. Phillips and I. S.
McAllister. The regiment returned to Virginia and took
part in the final campaign that closed at Appomattox.

The Eighth Georgia cavalry regiment was organized
with the following officers: Col. J. R. Griffin, Lieut. -
Col. J. M. Millen, Maj. J. M. Millen, Adjt. T. J. Pond;
Capts. (A) J. P. Davis, (B) B. B. Bower, (C) W. L. A. Ellis,
(D) T. R. Duval, (E) W. H. Thompson, (F) S. B. Jones,
(G) P. Gray, (H) T. A. James, (I) A. J. Love, (K) S. L.
Turner, (L) T. G. Barham. This regiment was formed
of seven companies of the Sixty-second Georgia, and
the first three companies of the Twentieth Georgia bat¬
talion. The Sixty-second had been serving in North
Carolina and Virginia, and the Twentieth battalion had
served in Georgia and Virginia. The Eighth regiment
was formed in July, 1864, and served in Virginia until
the end. Some of the officers who succeeded those in
command at the organization were: Majs. W. G.
Thomas and S. B. Spencer, Adjt. M. E. Williams; Capts.
(A) T. S. Paine, H. L. Norfleet and R. Towns, (B)
B. L. Screven, W. G. Thompson and J. N. Nichols, (C)
J. C. Smith, (D) M. J. Smith, S. B. Spencer and W. H.
Harrett, (E) J. G. Cress, J. M. Turpin and W. J. Deas,
(F) M. E. Williams, (G) J. R. Harper, (I) J. B. Edger-
ton, J. A. Richardson, W. A. Lamand and J. T.
Kennedy, (K) E, W. Westbrook.

The Ninth Georgia regiment of cavalry was organized
with the following officers: Col. G. I. Wright, Lieut. -Col.
B. S. King, Maj. M. D. Jones, Adjt. James Y. Harris;
Capts. (A) T. B. Archer, (B) M. D. Jones, (C) W. G.
Deloney, (D) G. I. Wright, (E) W. C. Dial, (F) W. D.
Jones, (G) William M. Williams, (H) J. E. Ritch, (I)
W. B. Young, (K) F. E. Eve, (L) A. M. Rogers. The
history of this splendid command can be found in the
sketch of Cobb’s legion, which has already been given.
Throughout its long and active service there were
many changes. The officers who during this time suc-
Ga 20

154 CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

ceeded those named above were: Capts. (A) Z. A.
Rice, T. P. Stovall, B. C. King, 0. H. P. Julian, J. J.
Thomas, B. C. Yancey, C. H. Sanders and W. L. Con¬
yers, (B) L. J. Glenn and William W. McDaniels, (C)
T. C. Williams, (D) C. H. Camfield, W. J. Lawton, J. F.
Wilson and W. A. Winn, (E) B. S. King, T. B. Cox,
W. S. C. Morris, (F) William T. S. Powell and G. W.
Moore, (G) J. C. Barnett and G. B. Knight, (H) W. A.
Cain, (I) William Duke, (K) J. J. Floyd.

The Tenth regiment of Georgia cavalry was formed in
July, 1864, from seven Georgia companies of the Seventh
Confederate regiment and three companies of Millen’s
Twentieth battalion of cavalry, under Col. V. H. Talia¬
ferro, Lieut. -Col. F. D. Claiborne, Maj. Jesse H. Sikes;
Capts. (A) E. W. Moise, (B) L. J. Smith, (C) J. H.
Sikes, (D) F. E. Burke, (E) F. A. Beasley, (K) F. G.
Pitt, (L) J. B. Bonner, and later S. T. Kingsbury. The
Tenth regiment continued to serve in Virginia during
1864. In the spring of 1865 it took part in the campaign
of the Carolinas, which ended with the capitulation of
General Johnston.

The Eleventh Georgia cavalry regiment had as officers:
Col. A. Young, Lieut. -Col. H. W. Barclay, Maj. Madison
Bell; Capts. (A) M. Bell, (B) E. P. Bedell, (C) J. Reid,
(D) D. M. West and J. M. Crawford, (E) J. Kelly, (F)
W. C. Price, (G) D. M. West, (H) W. S. Erwin, (I) J. N.
Dorsey, (K) N. T. Taber. This regiment was formed
in the fall of 1864 from the Thirtieth battalion of cavalry,
which had been serving in Virginia, by adding four new
companies. It was with Gen. Wade Hampton in the
campaign of the Carolinas, in the spring of 1865, and
surrendered with the rest of the army near Goldsboro,
April 26th.

The First Georgia regiment, partisan rangers, had for
its colonel, A. A. Hunt. This was the same as the Six¬
teenth battalion of cavalry.

The First battalion Georgia cavalry had the following

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY. 155

officers: Maj. Robert H. Anderson, Adjt. R. Wayne,
Robert Grant, Asst. Quartermaster R. H. Footman,
Capts. O. C. Hopkins, William Hughes, Jr., and Obiah
Winn. This battalion served on the Georgia coast. It
was raised to a regiment styled the Fifth Georgia cav¬
alry, a sketch of which has already been given.

The First battalion Georgia cavalry, No. 2, was com¬
posed of the companies of Capts. O. G. Cameron, John
Shawhan, James M. Thomas, Ezekiel F. Clay, John B.
Holliday, R. G. Stoner, P. M. Millen. This battalion be¬
came part of the Twentieth battalion of Georgia cavalry.

The Second battalion Georgia cavalry, Lieut. -Col.
Edward Bird, Maj. R. J. Davant, was composed of the
companies of Capts. (A) H. J. Strobhar, (B) N. U.
McCall, (C) G. B. West, (D) W. H. Wiltberger, (E)
J. M. Marsh, (F) R. F. Aiken. This battalion, together
with Robert Anderson’s First battalion, formed the Fifth
Georgia cavalry regiment, January 20, 1863. A sketch
of this regiment has already been given.

The Third battalion Georgia cavalry, Lieut. -Col. Dun¬
can L. Clinch, Maj. John L. Harris, Asst. Quartermaster
H. R. Fort, included the companies of Capts. (A) A. C.
Strickland, (B) T. C. McDonald, (C) I. S. Wiggins, (D)
W. M. Hazzard, (E) N. A. Brown, (F) John Readdick.
This battalion uniting with other companies formed
Clinch’s Fourth Georgia cavalry regiment, a sketch of
which has already been given.

The officers of the Ninth battalion Georgia cavalry
were: Maj. William Phillips, Capts. (A) R. W. Ham¬
rick, (B) G. D. Rice, (C) W. A. Austen, (D) J. Loveless,
(F) T. R. Sheats. This battalion served in Tennessee,
part of the time under Gen. John Morgan.

The roster of the Tenth battalion Georgia cavalry is
imperfect. The captains were: (A) M. A. Candler, (B)
A. C. Sloan, (C) G. T. Rakestraw, (D) B. M. Long, (E)
A. R. Williams, (F) E. S. Ferguson, (G) W. S. R.
Hardman.

156

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

The Fifteenth battalion Georgia cavalry (partisan
rangers), Lieut. -Col. J H. Griffin, was merged in the
Sixty-second Georgia, known also as the Eighth cavalry.
See the sketches of the same.

The officers of the Sixteenth battalion Georgia cavalry
(partisan rangers) were: Col. A. A. Hunt, Lieut. -Col.
F. M. Nix, Maj. S. J. Winn, Adjt. E. Y. Clark; Capts.
(A) T. F. Jones, (B) William B. Bailey, (C) A. J. Walters,
(D) David A. Camp, (E) William L. Merler, (F) John D.
Simms, (G) F. J. Whitehead, (H) J. F. Ray, (I) J. A.
Strange, (K) W. S. Thomas. This battalion, also some¬
times called the First partisan rangers, served in east
Tennessee, then in southwest Virginia, during the greater
part of the war. A portion of the battalion was with
General Early in the valley of Virginia in 1864. Samuel
J. Winn became lieutenant-colonel, E. Y. Clark, major,
and Thomas E. Winn, adjutant.

The Nineteenth battalion Georgia cavalry, Maj.
Charles T. Goode, included the companies of Capts. (A)
Thaddeus G. Holt, (B) James L. Leath, (C) W. I. Vason,
(D) G. R. Coley.

The Twentieth battalion Georgia cavalry (partisan
rangers) had the following officers: Lieut. -Col. John M.
Millen, Maj. S. B. Spencer, Adjt. M. E. Williams, Asst.
Quartermaster L. S. Varnedoe; Capts. (A) Moses J.
Smith, (B) W. G. Thompson, (C) J. G. Cress, (D) Wil¬
liam A. Lane, (E) A. J. Love, (F) J. B. Peacock. This
battalion served on the Georgia coast and then in Vir¬
ginia. In July, 1864, three companies united with seven
from the Sixty-second regiment to form the Eighth cav¬
alry. Three others helped to form the Tenth cavalry.
Another company, which had been added to the battalion,
was placed in the Jeff Davis legion (Mississippi troops).
Thomas L. Paine became captain of Company E, and
M. E. Williams of Company F.

The Twenty-first battalion Georgia cavalry (partisan
rangers) had as officers: Maj. William B. White, Adjt.

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

157

B. Green, Asst. Quartermaster William L. Platt ; Capts.
(A) W. D. Russell, (B) Jerry R. Johnson, (C) R. L.
Miller, (D) W. H. Banks, (E) R. F. Jones. This battal¬
ion served for a time on the South Carolina coast, but by
uniting with the Twenty-fourth battalion went to form
the Seventh Georgia cavalry, which served with distinc¬
tion in Virginia. William F. Laws became quartermaster
of the battalion in place of Captain Platt, C. C. Bowen
captain of Company B, and H. K. Harrison of Com¬
pany D.

The Twenty-third battalion Georgia cavalry was
officered as follows: Lieut. -Col. Isaac W. Avery, Adjt.
B. H. Newton, Asst. Quartermaster William K. Moore,
Commissary Joseph Stones; Capts. (A) W. L. Cook, (B)
Jeff Johnson, (C) G. B. May, (D) C. D. McCutchen, (E)
D. J. Owen. Company A was first commanded by Cap¬
tain Avery. The battalion was subsequently raised to a
regiment, Avery’s Fourth cavalry, a sketch of which has
already been given.

The officers of the Twenty-fourth battalion Georgia
cavalry were: Maj. Edward C. Anderson, Jr., Adjt. A. J.
Setze, Asst. Quartermaster B. C. Henry; Capts. (A)
T. S. Hopkins, (B) John N. Davis, (C) R. H. Wylley
and John W. Brumby. This battalion served for a time
on the Georgia coast. It was united with the Twenty-
first battalion to form the Seventh regiment, a sketch of
which has been given.

The Twenty-ninth battalion Georgia cavalry, Lieut. -
Col. A. Hood, included the companies of Capts. A. W.
Hunter, J. T. Wimberly, F. J. Browning, L. Little, F. L.
Pipper, S. C. Hall, R. W. Wade and J. C. Lassiter. This
battalion served on the Georgia coast and took part in the
defense of Savannah in December, 1864.

The Thirtieth battalion Georgia cavalry, Lieut. -Col.
A. Young, was composed of the companies of Capts. (A)
M. Bell, (B) E. P. Bedell, (C) J. Reid, (D) D. M. West
and J. M. Crawford, (E) J. Kelly, (F) W. C. Price, (H)

158

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

W. S. Erwin, (I) J. N. Dorsey, (K) N. T. Taber. This
battalion served in Georgia for awhile, then went to
Virginia and with the addition of other companies
formed the Eleventh regiment of cavalry, a sketch of
which has already been given.

Stephens’ battalion Georgia cavalry had the following
officers: Lieut. -Col. Linton Stephens, Maj. J. A. Shivers,
Adjt. W. H. Lawson; Capts. (A) J. Raley, (B) T. E.
Brown, (C) S. G. White, (D) J. F. Geev.

A company of Georgia cavalry, commanded by Capt.
T. M. Nelson (killed), succeeded by Gill Ragland, was in
the Kentucky campaign and was greatly distinguished at
the battle of Richmond in that State. Afterward it was
sent to north Mississippi, and from that time acted as Gen.
Stephen D. Lee’s escort. Culberson’s battalion State
guards cavalry, Col. A. B. Culberson, included the com¬
panies of Capts. (A) T. A. Sharpe, (B) J. B. Rogers, (C)
J. M. Easterling, (D) William Mahan, (F) J. Jones. The
officers of Stephens’ cavalry battalion were: Maj. John
T. Stephens, Capts. (A) B. G. Lockett, (B) J. W. Ellis,
(C) J. R. Banks, (D) C. F. Redding. The Ninth battal¬
ion Georgia light guards, or Macon ordnance guards bat¬
talion, Col. Patrick Mell, Maj. H. T. Price, was composed
of the companies of Capts. (A) C. W. Bond, (B) C. Dodd,
(C) A. Delaperrier, (D) R. C. Saxon, (E) R. H. Can¬
non. The Provost battalion Georgia volunteers was
officered as follows: Capts. (A) M. D. Lee, (B) T. J.
Echols, (C) J. W. Longino, (D) E. Holmes, (E) J. C.
Hendrix, (F) L. L. Strozier, (G) R. P. Eberhart. Cap¬
tain Lee was succeeded by William M. McConnell.

CHAPTER VII.

GEORGIA TROOPS IN VIRGINIA IN 1862— YORKTOWN—
SEVEN PINES — THE VALLEY CAMPAIGN — SEVEN
DAYS’ BATTLES.

DURING the campaign upon the Virginia peninsula
ending with the battle of Seven Pines, on the
last day of May and first of June, the Georgia
commands had a part in all the frequent engage¬
ments except the battle of Williamsburg. When Mc¬
Clellan’s army invested Yorktown, the Sixth, Sixteenth,
Seventh, Eighth and Tenth regiments were on duty in
the trenches and on the general Confederate line. On
April 1 6th the Federal attack was opened at Dam No. 1,
the center of Magruder’s line, by a storm of shot and
shell, when it was a Georgian who made the first reply
with the one available cannon which could be used with
effect. Lieutenant Pope, of the Troup artillery (Cobb’s
legion), Capt. Marcellus Stanley, performed this duty, and
the coolness and skill with which his 6-pounder was han¬
dled almost counterbalanced the odds against him. The
Federal attack upon the position held by the forces
under Gen. Howell Cobb was met by his line of battle,
the right of which was composed of the Sixteenth and
Eleventh Georgia regiments and Cobb’s legion. The
first onset of the enemy was successful, considerable con¬
fusion following the death of Colonel McKinney, of
the Fifteenth North Carolina. But this disorder was
promptly corrected by General Cobb, who rode to the
front, and by his coolness inspired his men to promptly
retake their positions. Col. George T. Anderson at this
opportune moment brought up the Seventh and Eighth
Georgia, and these regiments, the Seventh led by Col.

159

160

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

W. T. Wilson and supported by the Eighth under Col.
Lucius M. Lamar, with parts of the Sixteenth Georgia,
Fifth Louisiana and the North Carolina regiment, under
Col. Goode Bryan, made a gallant charge, which drove
the enemy with severe loss from the rifle-pits gained
by him and across the pond. General Cobb mentioned
among the casualties the severe wounding of Capt.
James Barrow, of his staff, while delivering orders.
Colonel Bryan called special attention to the bravery of
Captain Montgomery, Company D, Sixteenth regiment,
who displayed coolness and gallantry during the assault
of the enemy. A second assault was attempted by Mc¬
Clellan’s forces, but under the steady fire of the Confed¬
erates they could gain no headway. General Magruder
highly commended the skill of General McLaws, division
commander, and the personal daring and coolness of
General Cobb. Colonel Anderson’s brigade, it has been
noticed, came to the rescue at the most important mo¬
ment, winning special distinction, and later, says Ma¬
gruder, “Brigadier-General Toombs, commanding the
division which included Anderson’s brigade, advanced
with his own brigade under Gen. P. J. Semmes, and sup¬
ported Cobb and Anderson at the dose of the fight, which
ended at nightfall.’’ This action brought credit to some
of Georgia’s most brilliant commanders, and to troops
which became famous in many subsequent battles.

After the abandonment of Yorktown and the gallant
fight at Williamsburg, there was an attempt on the part
of the Federals to land troops near West Point, Va.,
which brought on an engagement May 7th, in which the
Eighteenth Georgia, Col. W. T. Wofford, of Hood’s bri¬
gade, and the Nineteenth, of Hampton’s brigade, partici¬
pated. General Hampton reported that the Nineteenth
came up at a run when needed, under heavy fire. This
regiment took a number of prisoners, and the conduct
of Col. Thomas C. Johnson and Maj. A. J. Hutchins was
particularly commended. On the 19th Capt. William H.

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

161

Willis, of the Fourth, and Captain Albert, of the
Twenty-second, skirmished with the enemy at City Point.

On May 24th, the Eighth and Ninth Georgia, under
command of Colonels Lamar and R. A. Turnipseed, took
part in the sortie over the Chickahominy at New Bridge,
under Col. B. H. Robertson. Colonel Lamar commanded
the infantry and was complimented upon his prompt
and efficient execution of orders. “The officers and men
behaved most gallantly,’’ Robertson reported; “their
coolness and steadiness under fire bespoke them veterans
worthy of the fame so dearly bought on the plains of Ma¬
nassas. ” Three companies of the Tenth, Col. Alfred
Cumming commanding, also served in this combat. At
the fight of Branch’s brigade at Hanover Court House,
May 27th, Col. Thomas Hardeman’s regiment, the Forty-
fifth, was present, but not actively engaged.

At the time of the battle of Seven Pines, fought about
six miles east of Richmond, the brigades of George T.
Anderson, Toombs, Cobb and Semmes were aligned in the
order named, on the west side of the Chickahominy. But in
the successful attack of D. H. Hill’s division upon that
part of the Federal army which had crossed the Chicka¬
hominy, the movement which constituted the main part
of the battle, two Georgia regiments were conspicuous.
These were the Twenty-seventh and Twenty- eighth, tem¬
porarily attached to the North Carolina brigade of Col.
George B. Anderson. Hill’s division swept the enemy
from its front in an impetuous charge, and captured the
intrenchments before Seven Pines. The Twenty-sev¬
enth first encountered the enemy at the abatis after
a fatiguing march through the woods, and suffering
severely under fire, charged over the abatis and at the
second attempt drove the Federals from their position.
In this gallant movement, which began the discomfiture
of Keyes’ division, the Georgians were assisted by Micah
Jenkins’ South Carolina regiment. In the first charge
the gallant Capt. Thomas J. Bacon fell mortally wounded.

Ga 21

162

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

“This officer’s loss is irreparable,’’ Lieutenant- Colonel
Zachry reported. “In his regular duties his attentiveness
and faithfulness challenged the admiration of every
member of the command. His courage, coolness and
judgment rendered his services on the battlefield inval¬
uable. ’’ Between the first and second charge Col. Levi
B. Smith was severely wounded, but he kept his saddle
through the second charge and until about 5 p. m., when
exhausted by loss of blood he reluctantly retired. “Colo¬
nel Smith,” said General Anderson, “approved himself
a soldier and leader of the noblest qualities.” While in
the act of leaving the field his horse was shot under him.
After this the regiment was ably commanded by Lieut. -
Col. Charles T. Zachry.

Colonel Zachry’s report states that after passing the
first camp of the enemy he was ordered to follow up
Colonel Jenkins’ regiment and support him if necessary.
Adjutant Gardner, on finding Jenkins, was hailed by the
latter with, “Come on, Georgia, I want you. ” As the
two gallant regiments advanced, a change of position in
the face of an advancing body of the enemy caused tem¬
porary confusion, which was rectified by Adjutant Gard¬
ner, who dashed boldly to where the line should be, and
rode back and forth under fire, waving his sword defi¬
antly at the enemy. The regiment promptly rushed
into position and drove the enemy from the woods.
Their advance ceased at 8 p. m., a mile ahead of
any other Confederate troops except Jenkins’ regiment,
their comrades in the charge. Sergeant Latham, of
Company D, color-bearer, and the color guard were dis¬
tinguished for intrepid conduct. The colors were pierced
twenty times.

The Twenty-eighth was also under fire in the same
movement for three or four hours. Capt. John N. Wil¬
cox, left in command in consequence of the illness of
Lieut. -Col. James G. Cain, led the regiment with cool¬
ness and gallantry through the fight. Commissary John

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY. 163

T. Hall, Lieut P. F. Crump, Adjutant Wicker andSergt.-
Maj. J. E. Thompson were commended for efficiency.
The Twenty-eighth took into battle 371 men, and lost 24
killed and 95 wounded, a total of 119. Among the killed
was Lieut. R. A. McClure. Lieut. J. A. J. Peacock was
desperately wounded and for some time thought to be
killed. The Twenty-seventh, out of 392 engaged, suffer¬
ed a loss of 16 killed and 129 wounded, total 154. In the
words of General Anderson, these dry figures may be
truly said to speak with touching eloquence of what was
done and suffered by the brave men of his brigade on
Saturday, the 31st of May. Other Georgia regiments,
the Third, Sixth, Fourteenth and Nineteenth, were more
or less engaged. The Fourteenth lost among its killed
Capt. John H. Etheridge, and the Nineteenth, Capt.
A. H. Black.

The Twelfth Georgia, which led by Edward John¬
son had won distinction in the mountains of western
Virginia during 1861, was now commanded by Col.
Z. T. Conner, who also had charge of one of the two
brigades which formed the little army of the Northwest
commanded by Gen. Edward Johnson, in the spring of
1862. They confronted the brigades of Generals Milroy
and Schenck in the upper Shenandoah valley during the
early operations of Gen. Stonewall Jackson in the vicin¬
ity of Winchester, and after Jackson had formed a junc¬
tion with them, they were sent forward to drive back Mil¬
roy ’s brigade from the Monterey region, and prevent his
uniting with the Federal General Banks, who was ad¬
vancing up the valley from the north. The battle of Mc¬
Dowell, which Jackson fought on May 8, 1862, was made
a victory chiefly by Edward Johnson, with Conner’s and
Scott’s brigades, supported by Taliaferro’s, against the
two brigades of Milroy and Schenck. It was probably
won by the tenacious fighting of Conner’s Twelfth Geor¬
gia regiment and the brigade commanded by him. In
seizing the hill upon which the battle was fought late in

164

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

the afternoon, the Twelfth Georgia was placed on the
crest confronting the main body of the enemy, supported
on the left and right by Virginia regiments. As Jack-
son reported in complimentary terms, it held this position
against the assaults of the enemy with heroic gallantry,
and when the flank was threatened, participated with
Taliaferro’s brigade in frustrating that hostile movement.
The character of its service may be inferred from its
losses, 35 killed and 140 wounded, about one-third of
the aggregate Confederate casualties. Among the killed
were Captains Dawson, Furlow, McMillan and Patter¬
son, and Lieutenants Goldwire, Massey, Turpin and
Woodward. Colonel Conner and Major Hawkins were
complimented by honorable mention in General John¬
son’s report. This battle is especially worthy of note
as the first of the series of victories that have joined for¬
ever the names of Stonewall Jackson and the Shenan¬
doah valley. On the 30th, four companies of the Twelfth
and a Louisiana regiment were severely handled at Front
Royal by a brigade of Shields’ division, losing Lieu¬
tenants Dixon and Waterman among the prisoners
taken from them. On June 8th and 9th, in the crowning
victories of this brilliant campaign, Cross Keys and Port
Republic, the regiment lost 2 killed and 1 2 wounded.

The Twenty-first Georgia regiment, Col. John T.
Mercer, in Trimble’s brigade, of Ewell’s division, was
especially distinguished at Winchester, May 25th, win¬
ning the commendation of both Stonewall Jackson and
Ewell in the official reports. “We moved at dawn,”
wrote Ewell, “and opened the attack at 5:40 a. m. , the
Twenty-first North Carolina and Twenty-first Georgia
gallantly dashing into the western part of the town and
driving back the advanced posts of the enemy. The
Twenty-first North Carolina was exposed to a murderous
fire from a regiment posted behind a stone wall. Both
its field officers were wounded and a large number of
privates killed and wounded. They were forced back,

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY, . 165

retiring in good order and ready to renew the fight.
Colonel Mercer, of the Twenty-first Georgia, drove out
this Federal regiment and joined the rest of the brigade
in the subsequent movements. ’ ’ At Cross Keys the regi¬
ment was again in battle, and Colonel Mercer was spe¬
cially commended by General Trimble. Here the regi¬
ment lost 28 killed and wounded, among the latter Lieut.
J. M. Mack.

Near the middle of June, 1862, Brig. -Gen. A. R. Law-
ton, with a Georgia brigade consisting of six regiments,
Thirteenth, Col. Marcellus Douglass; Twenty-sixth, Col.
E. N. Atkinson; Thirty-first, Col. C. A. Evans; Thirty-
eighth, Col. Augustus R. Wright; Sixtieth, Col. W. H.
Stiles; Sixty-first, Col. John H. Lamar, arrived in Vir¬
ginia. These regiments had been serving on the Georgia
coast under General Lawton since the fall of 1861, and
some of the troops, especially of the Thirteenth regiment,
had been engaged in two spirited affairs on Whitemarsh
island, below Savannah, in March and April, 1862.

On the nthof June, Gen. R. E. Lee, who had suc¬
ceeded J. E. Johnston, wrote to Jackson:

The practicability of reinforcing you has been the sub¬
ject of earnest consideration. It has been determined
to do so at the expense of weakening this army. Briga¬
dier-General Lawton with six regiments from Georgia is
on the way to you, and Brigadier-General Whiting with
eight veteran regiments leaves here today. The object
is to enable you to crush the forces opposed to you.
Leave your enfeebled troops to watch the country and
guard the passes, covered by your cavalry and artillery,
and with your main body, including Ewell’s division
and Lawton’s and Whiting’s commands, move rapidly to
Ashland, by rail or otherwise, as you may find most
advantageous, and sweep down between the Chickahom-
iny and Pamunkey, cutting up the enemy’s communica¬
tions, etc., while this army attacks General McClellan in
front.

This was the outline of part of the plan of campaign

166

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

against McClellan which first established the great mili¬
tary reputation of General Lee.

In the army of Northern Virginia, as organized for
that campaign, Lawton’s brigade became the Fourth of
Jackson’s division, Jackson’s corps. The Eighteenth
Georgia was attached to Hood’s Texas brigade; the
Twelfth was a part of Elzey’s (Early’s) brigade, Ewell’s
division; D. H. Hill’s division included a brigade four-
fifths Georgian, commanded by Col. A. H. Colquitt — the
Sixth, Twenty-third, Twenty-seventh and Twenty-eighth
Georgia; and Ripley’s brigade of the same division was
half Georgian, including the Forty-fourth and Forty-
eighth regiments.

In Magruder’s corps were more Georgia regiments
than of any other State. D. R. Jones’ division had two
brigades, the first commanded by Gen. Robert Toombs,
composed of the Second, Fifteenth, Seventeenth and
Twentieth Georgia regiments, and the second, under Col.
George T. Anderson, made up of the First regulars,
Seventh, Eighth, Ninth and Eleventh Georgia, the old
Manassas brigade. Gen. Paul J. Semmes’ brigade of Me-
Laws’ division included the Tenth and Fifty-third, and
Gen. Howell Cobb’s brigade had for its main strength
the Sixteenth and Twenty-fourth regiments and Cobb’s
legion. Ambrose R. Wright, former colonel of the
Third Georgia, promoted to brigadier-general, com¬
manded a brigade of Huger’s division, which included
the Third, Fourth and Twenty-second regiments. Still
another Georgia brigade was found in A. P. Hill’s light
'division — Joseph R. Anderson’s, made up of the Four¬
teenth, Thirty-fifth, Forty-fifth and Forty-ninth regi¬
ments; and in the same division the Nineteenth was
attached to Archer’s Tennessee brigade. The Second
Georgia battalion, from the department of North Caro¬
lina, was with J. G. Walker’s brigade.

The splendid army with which Lee prepared to thwart
the invasion of McClellan, probably the greatest assem-

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

167

bled in behalf of the Confederacy during the war, included
1 86 regiments and battalions of infantry, among which
Virginia as the invaded territory properly had 51, the
largest number. Georgia had 38 ; North Carolina, includ¬
ing the troops of her department, furnished 36; South
Carolina, 15; Alabama, 15; Mississippi, 10; Louisiana, 11,
and other States smaller numbers.

Lee’s plan to bring Stonewall Jackson to his assistance
and crush McClellan before reinforcements could reach
him, had approached the eve of its fulfillment, when
about two hours before sunset on the 26th of June, Jack¬
son’s signal guns announced to A. P. Hill that he had
reached the outposts on the Union right. But on the
previous day, June 25th, occurred an aggressive move¬
ment of the enemy on the old battlefield of Seven Pines,
which, though it did not hinder in any way Lee’s plan,
may be called the first of the week’s engagements known
to fame as the Seven Days’ battles before Richmond.
About daylight of the 25th, the Federals, advancing in
considerable force, drove back the Confederate pickets to
the skirt of woods immediately in front of and about half
a mile distant from the Southern lines. Col. George
Doles, with the Fourth Georgia, was on the picket line,
and Gen. Ambrose R. Wright brought forward the
Twenty-second (Col. R. H. Jones) and the First Louisi¬
ana, and charging gallantly to the support of the Fourth,
drove back the enemy through the woods a quarter mile.
Here their farther advance lay over an open field, beyond
which, under cover of heavy forest timber and dense
undergrowth, the retreating foe had taken shelter.
“With a gallantry and impetuosity which have rarely
been equaled, and certainly never excelled since the war
began,’’ says General Wright, “these brave and daring
Louisianians and Georgians charged through the open
field and actually drove from their cover the whole bri¬
gade, supposed at the time to be Sickles’.

Soon after this Colonel Rutledge’s North Carolina

168

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY

regiment, supported by the Third Georgia, Maj. J. R.
Sturges, aided by Capt. Frank Huger ‘s battery, gallantly
participated in the fight, holding their ground under
a murderous fire, and then pushed back a largely supe¬
rior force of the enemy. The Federals still holding their
position on the right, late in the day, General Wright
sent against them the Fourth Georgia and Hill’s North
Carolina regiment. “This order was promptly obeyed by
Colonel Doles, who with his small command, now worn
out and completely exhausted by the fatigue and want of
rest on the night before, and the constant fight during
the whole day, rushed forward and soon found them¬
selves confronted by Sickles’ brigade, strongly posted in
a thick growth of pines.’’ The fire here for twenty min¬
utes was furious and terrific, but the gallant Fourth
pressed on. “Soon a charge was ordered, and then they
rushed forward and at the point of the bayonet drove the
enemy in great disorder and confusion through the woods
to Kings’ schoolhouse, where they were temporarily ral¬
lied ; but another deadly volley from the Fourth, followed
by a dashing charge, and the enemy fled from their posi¬
tion, leaving us masters of the field, and in possession of
a great number of prisoners, besides most of their killed
and a few of their wounded. ’ ’ Such was the vigorous
report of the day’s fight from General Wright, who com¬
plimented Colonel Doles and his regiment with particular
warmth, and permitted them to inscribe upon their col¬
ors the name of the battle — “King’s Schoolhouse.”

The following day Gen. A. P. Hill crossed the Chicka-
hominy to make an attack which was expected to have
the support of Stonewall Jackson, beginning the strong
flank movement which General Lee relied upon to crush
the Federal army, while Huger and Magruder held the
line before Richmond. The battle of Mechanicsville fol¬
lowed, in which J. R. Anderson’s brigade was particu¬
larly distinguished. “Anderson, with the Thirty-fifth
Georgia, Col. E. L. Thomas leading,” as stated in the

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

169

report of General Hill, “had moved as heretofore
directed, and encountering the enemy drove them back,
and Colonel Thomas with his regiment crossed Beaver
Dam creek and gained an admirable position for charg¬
ing the enemy’s batteries. The Fourteenth Georgia,
Lieut. -Col. Robert W. Folsom, pushed forward to his
support, but Folsom was stricken down, the regiment lost
his gallant leading and but few crossed.” Colonel
Thomas held his own until the battle closed, when he
withdrew and joined his brigade on the south side of the
creek. The Forty-ninth and Forty-fifth Georgia were
effective in the same fight. General Anderson also made
special mention of the Georgians in this affair, saying:
“I would especially notice the conduct of Col. E. L.
Thomas, commanding Thirty-fifth Georgia, who evinced
fearlessness and good judgment not only in this affair,
but throughout the expedition. He was wounded on this
occasion, but remained always on duty at the head of his
regiment. His adjutant, too, Lieutenant Ware, was con¬
spicuous for gallantry, and sealed with his life his devo¬
tion to the cause of his country, as did other valuable
officers. I have also as the result of this action to regret
the loss from the service, at least for a time, of Col.
A. J. Lane, commanding Forty-ninth Georgia, who
received a painful and serious wound in the arm, and of
Lieut. -Col. Thomas J. Simmons, of the Forty-fifth regi¬
ment ; nor can I omit to call special attention to the gal¬
lant conduct of Capt. L. P. Thomas, quartermaster of the
Thirty-fifth, who volunteered his services for the occasion
in the field, seeing his regiment deficient in field officers.
He rendered valuable service until he was seriously
wounded. Lieut. -Col. Robert W. Folsom, Fourteenth
Georgia, also deserves special mention. This officer was
confined to his sick bed, but as soon as the order to move
forward was given he got up and gallantly led his regi-

Ga 22

170

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

ment, though laboring under the effects of disease.’’
Capt. D. B. Henry and Lieut. H. H. Roberts were
among the killed.

In the same battle the Nineteenth Georgia, of Archer’s
brigade, lost its gallant commander, Lieut. -Col. Thomas
C. Johnson, who fell cheering his men in action ; Lieut.
Joseph Dunlap was also killed in the midst of the conflict.
Ripley’s brigade, of D. H. Hill’s division, joined A. P.
Hill before the close of this fight, bringing into action
the Forty-fourth and Forty-eighth Georgia. Just before
dark they advanced over very difficult ground under a
heavy fire, and suffered great loss. “Of the Forty-fourth
Georgia,’’ General Ripley reported, “Col. Robert A.
Smith and Lieut. -Col. John B. Estes fell wounded, the
former mortally, besides 2 captains and 10 lieutenants
killed and woiinded. The Forty-eighth Georgia, Colonel
Gibson, had a more advantageous position and suffered
less severely. . . . The loss of non-commissioned officers
and privates was heavy in the extreme.’’ In the Forty-
fourth Georgia there were 335 killed and wounded,
including every field officer, either killed or wounded.

Next morning, as the Confederates advanced, the enemy
fell back to Gaines’ Mill and Cold Harbor, where A. P.
Hill followed and made desperate efforts to break the
Federal line. “The Thirty-fifth Georgia drove through
the enemy’s lines like a wedge, but it was all of no
avail.’’ Hardeman’s Forty-fifth was also in the fight,
and the Nineteenth Georgia lost all its field officers.
Lieutenant-Colonel Shackelford, killed in the gallant
discharge of duty, and Sergt.-Maj. J. W. Williams were
especially commended by General Archer. The heroic
fragment of the Forty-fourth, 179 strong, under Capts.
J. W. Beck and Samuel P. Lumpkin, were still at the
front in this as in subsequent battles.

Toward the close of this battle Longstreet and Jackson
threw their forces to the relief of A. P. Hill, and defeated
the Federal army. The Eighteenth Georgia, under

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY. 171

Lieut. -Col. S. Z. Ruff, took part in the famous assault
of Hood’s brigade, losing 16 killed and 126 wounded.
Among the killed and mortally wounded were Lieuten¬
ants Dowton, McCulloch, Cone and Jones. Of Colquitt’s
brigade Gen. D. H. Hill said: “The Sixth and Twenty-
seventh Georgia, of this brigade, commanded by those
pure, brave, noble, Christian soldiers, Lieut. -Col. J. M.
Newton and Col. Levi B. Smith, behaved most heroic¬
ally, and maintained their ground when half their num¬
ber had been struck down. ’ ’

Lawton’s brigade of the Stonewall division went into
action about 5 o’clock in the evening, moving forward in
perfect order through the woods and miry soil, guided
only by the sound of the firing. “In the midst of the
wood,’’ said General Lawton, “I met Major-General
Ewell, then hotly engaged, who, as he saw this long line
advancing under fire, waved his sword and cried out,
‘Hurrah for Georgia! ’ To this there was a cheering
response from my command, which then moved forward
more rapidly than ever.’’ Being informed of the place
where they were most needed, the Georgians pushed on,
picking up fragments of other brigades as they advanced,
an invincible line of reinforcement at the crisis of the
fight. At this moment the North Carolinians under
Iverson made the charge which terminated the struggle
and routed the enemy, and this was supported by the dis¬
position of the troops under Lawton’s command. The
Thirty-eighth and Thirty-first were for a time separated
from the brigade in crossing a ravine, thus falling under
the command of Colonel Evans, and were accompanied
in their subsequent movements by Capt. E. P. Lawton,
the gallant adjutant-general of the brigade. These two
regiments were actively engaged from the beginning, and
participated in the last decisive charge, losing 83 killed
and 259 wounded, total 342, while the aggregate brigade
loss was 492. Captain Lawton had his horse killed and
was slightly wounded; Lieut. -Col. L. J. Parr, in com-

172

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

mand of the Thirty-eighth, lost an arm, and Maj. J. D.
Matthews was dangerously wounded. Col. C. A. Evans,
commanding the Thirty-first regiment, and leading, in the
charge on the left, his own and the Thirty-eighth regi¬
ment after their separation from the brigade, received a
slight wound, and a number of other officers were killed
or wounded. The losses among rank and file were very
heavy, showing the desperate character of their charge.
Early in the action, Capt. Edward Cheves, volunteer aide
to General Lawton, lost his horse, but he went into battle
on foot and fell pierced through the heart by a rifle ball.
“Though a mere youth, he had exhibited a degree of zeal,
intelligence and gallantry worthy of praise, and not one
who fell on that bloody field has brought more sorrow to
the hearts of those who knew him best.’’ The loss of
the brigade in this battle of Gaines’ Mill was as follows:
Thirteenth, 6 killed, 54 wounded; Sixtieth, 3 killed, 11
wounded; Twenty-sixth, 8 killed, 32 wounded; Sixty-
first, 6 killed, 30 wounded; Thirty-eighth, 54 killed, 118
wounded; Thirty-first, 29 killed, 141 wounded; aggre¬
gate, 492.

After this battle, Magruder and Huger pushed forward
south of the Chickahominy. On the 27th, Toombs,
instructed to feel the enemy, sent seven companies of
the Second, under Colonel Butt, against the intrenched
Federals, and supported them with the Fifteenth, Colonel
McIntosh; Seventeenth, Colonel Benning, and Twenti¬
eth, Col. J. B. Cumming. There was a spirited fight for
an hour and a half, in which the enemy was defeated in
his effort to dislodge the Georgians, the brunt of the con¬
test falling upon the Second and Fifteenth regiments.
The Second lost in killed and wounded about half the
men carried into action, and the Fifteenth lost 71 out of
300 engaged, including the chivalrous Col. W. M. McIn¬
tosh, who fell mortally wounded, and Captain Burch and
Lieutenant Tilley, killed in action. The behavior of the
entire brigade, as General Toombs expressed it, was

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

173

“brilliantly heroic.” The companies of the Second
engaged, under command of Colonel Butt and Lieut. -Col.
W. R. Holmes, were the Cherokee Brown Rifles (F),
Semmes Guards (C), Burke Sharpshooters (D), Wright
Infantry (H), Buena Vista Guards (I), Stewart Greys,
Lieut. Henry Rockwell, and Jackson Blues, Capt. McC.
Lewis. Holmes reported that when the fight ceased at
night, of the two companies which he commanded (Cap¬
tain Shepherd’s Semmes Guards and Captain Shuford’s
Cherokee Rifles) there were but two men left effective.
All were either killed, wounded, or unable to fire, not
being able to load their pieces or out of ammunition.
The seven companies included about 271 men, in this
battle.

At the same time the Seventh and Eighth regiments
of Anderson’s brigade, in the words of Gen. D. R. Jones,
“with that impetuous valor exhibited on other fields,
advanced rapidly on the enemy, facing a hail of grape,
canister and musketry, and driving him from his intrench-
ments to the edge of the Labor- in- Vain swamp.” The
Eighth led the attack under command of the heroic L. M.
Lamar, and suffered severely. Colonel Lamar was
wounded and taken by the enemy, Lieut. -Col. John R.
Towers and Lieutenant Harper were also captured, Maj.
E. J. Magruder was seriously wounded, Captain Butler,
Lieutenants Montgomery, Williamson and Blackwell
were wounded, and 13 men were killed, 63 wounded, 6
missing and 15 taken prisoners. Of the Seventh, Lieut. -
Col. W. W. White, commanding, was seriously wounded,
Captain Hicks wounded, and 7 were killed, 60 wounded
and 8 missing.

On the following day, the 29th (battle of Savage Sta¬
tion), Anderson’s Georgia brigade set out in line of bat¬
tle to find the enemy, traversing his deserted camps and
works. The First Georgia regulars, in advance, had a
brisk engagement. The Tenth, Col. Alfred Cumming,
of Semmes’ brigade, was particularly distinguished in

174

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

the Savage Station fight, and suffered a loss of io killed
and 47 wounded, out of 345. The bloody encounter of
Frayser’s Farm followed on the 30th. Just as J. R.
Anderson’s Georgia brigade went into the battle that
evening, President Davis galloped along the line and was
recognized and vociferously cheered by the men. It was
dark as they approached the scene of action, and the
Georgians unfortunately mistook an approaching body of
the enemy for friends until they received a deadly fire
which caused great confusion and wounded General
Anderson and Colonel Hardeman. Colonel Thomas then
assumed brigade command.

The campaign which had resulted in driving McClellan
from the proximity of Richmond came to a close in the
futile assault upon the heights of Malvern hill, desper¬
ately defended by the Federals. Here the Thirteenth
regiment, Col. Marcellus Douglass, was actively engaged
and lost 9 killed and 46 wounded. There was a remnant
of 142 officers and men of the Forty-fourth Georgia who
went into the fight at Malvern hill, under Lieut. -Col.
John B. Estes, and lost 9 killed, 40 wounded and 10
missing, increasing the total loss of the brigade in the
week’s fighting to 400, out of an original strength of 514.
Of these, the killed in battle or mortally wounded were
estimated at 200. The Tenth Georgia was gallantly led
by Col. Alfred Cumming, and with Company K, Fifty-
third, under Lieutenant McCowan, and a company of the
First regulars under Lieutenant Benning, at a late hour
made a desperate charge upon the enemy’s batteries, but
was repulsed. The Tenth lost 38 out of 198 engaged.
Lawton’s brigade, held in reserve under severe shelling,
was ordered into the fight later in the afternoon, and par¬
ticipated in the final assault in the evening which was
continued far into night. The Thirty-first, Colonel
Evans commanding, was deployed to cover the front of
the brigade during the night. The casualties of Law¬
ton’s brigade in the charge were 75.

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

175

The Seventh, of Col. G. T. Anderson’s brigade, at
Malvern hill was commanded by Maj. E. W. Hoyle,
who was wounded, the command devolving on Capt.
George H. Carmichael. Other officers wounded were
Adjutant Maddox, Capt. R. B. Hicks, Lieuts. J. F. Bel¬
linger, A. Y. White and Obadiah Wynn. Lieut. T. S.
Watson was killed. Sergt. T. A. Aderhold, of Company
I, after the colors had been twice shot down, sprang for¬
ward, and grasping the staff called on his comrades to
rally on the colors, in which heroic conduct he was
severely wounded. The Eleventh, Lieut. -Col. William
Luff man, had 79 killed, wounded and missing, among
them Adjt. John F. Green, Lieuts. M. F. Gudger and
Nathaniel Parish.

The brigades of Cobb and Toombs also participated in
this battle. The Second and part of the Twentieth
charged with Kershaw on the Federal batteries, and
Colonel Butt was wounded. The Second lost 11 killed,
including Capt. Walter A. Thompson, Lieuts. F. E.
Hardison and Richard Potter, and 70 wounded; the
Fifteenth, commanded by Capt. S. Z. Hearnsberger, also
suffered severely; the Seventeenth lost 5 killed, including
Lieut. P. T. Booker, and 31 wounded; and the Twentieth
lost 5 killed and 66 wounded. Wright’s brigade lost
heavily in the assaults at Crew’s house, both in officers
and men. Maj. John R. Sturges, commanding Third
regiment, fell at the head of his men under the very
muzzles of the enemy’s cannon; Capt. John A. Hamil¬
ton, Lieuts. Z. F. Crenshaw and R. L. Cumming were
killed, and Lieuts. R. A. Heath and V. P. Shewmake mor¬
tally wounded. Capt. James G. Rodgers, commanding
the Twelfth, was particularly complimented by General
Early upon his coolness in leading his men to the front
through a large body of disorganized troops who were
giving disheartening accounts of the fight, he ail the time
encouraging his own men and urging the fugitives to join
him. In the Fourth regiment, Capts. Joshua P Strick-

176

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

land and George F. Todd and Lieut. Thomas F. Churchill
were mortally wounded.

In A. P. Hill’s report of the campaign, mention for
conspicuous gallantry is given to J. N. Williams, ser¬
geant-major Nineteenth Georgia; and Captain Wright
and his cavalry company of Cobb’s legion (acting as
escort) are referred to as being of great service and mak¬
ing a gallant charge on one occasion.

The losses of Georgia infantry (not including artillery
and cavalry) in these battles were 3,708, about one-sixth
of the aggregate loss of the army, as reported. Of the
Georgia artillery commands, Lane’s battery of Lieuten¬
ant-Colonel Cutts’ Sumter battalion lost 2 killed and 7
wounded at Malvern hill. The Troup artillery lost 4
men wounded. None of the Georgia cavalry commands
was actively engaged directly with Lee’s infantry dur¬
ing the Seven Days.

CHAPTER VIII.

CEDAR (SLAUGHTER’S) MOUNTAIN, SECOND MANAS¬
SAS, SOUTH MOUNTAIN, HARPER’S FERRY, SHARPS-
BURG, FREDERICKSBURG.

TONEWALL JACKSON, in the Second Manassas

campaign, had under his command the divisions of

Taliaferro (Jackson’s), A. P. Hill and Ewell. Col.

E. L. Thomas, promoted to brigadier-general, com¬
manded J. R. Anderson’s brigade of Hill’s division.
Archer’s brigade still contained the Nineteenth regiment.
Lawton’s brigade began here its long and distinguished
identification with Ewell’s division, later commanded by
Lawton, Early, Gordon, and Evans. The Twelfth and
Twenty-first regiments were in Trimble’s brigade. The
latter was the first in the fight at Slaughter’s or Cedar
mountain, August 9th, and the Twelfth was also
particularly conspicuous. Posted by General Early, it
held unwaveringly the key to the Confederate position
on the hills after other parts of the line had broken, with
the exception of Thomas’ Georgians, who also stood fast
on the right. When their ammunition was exhausted
they depended on their bayonets and held their posi¬
tions. Early, who was the conspicuous commander in
this engagement, says: “The conduct of the Twelfth
Georgia regiment, which I was with more than any
other, elicited my especial approbation. It is a gallant,
fighting regiment, and I have had occasion before to
notice its good conduct. Its commander in this action,
Capt. William F. Brown, who is over sixty years of age,
displayed great coolness, courage and energy. He is
eminently deserving the command of a regiment, and I •
recommend him for promotion to fill the first vacancy

Ga 23

177

178

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

that may occur among the field officers of the regiment. ”
With equally generous admiration Gen. A. P. Hill re¬
ferred to the gallant conduct of the Georgia brigade of
E. L. Thomas, who was sent to the support of Early by
Jackson :

Thomas formed his line of battle along a fence border¬
ing a cornfield, through which the enemy were advanc¬
ing. After a short contest here the enemy was hurled
back. . . . The Fourteenth Georgia, under the gallant
Colonel Folsom, having become separated from the rest
of the brigade, charged the advancing enemy and with
brilliant success. The enemy had now been driven from
every part of the field, but made an attempt to retrieve
his fortunes by a cavalry charge. His squadrons advanc¬
ing across an open field in front of Branch, exposed their
flank to him, and, encountering a deadly fire from the
Fourteenth Georgia and Thirteenth Virginia, had many
saddles emptied and fled in utter disorder. Much credit
is due Thomas’ brigade for the admirable manner in
which it acted under very discouraging circumstances.

In this encounter the Stonewall division was heavily
pressed by the Federals, who attacked with great vigor
and were sweeping everything before them when the
tide was turned, mainly through the tenacity of the
Twelfth Georgia and the opportune action of Thomas’
brigade.

General Jackson now marched to the Rappahannock,
and on the 2 2d, the Twenty-first Georgia, Capt. T. C.
Glover, was the first to cross the river, making a dash at a
detachment of Sigel’s division, which had captured part
of the Confederate wagon train. The Georgians recap¬
tured the property, and took several prisoners, who fur¬
nished important information. On the afternoon of the
same -day the Thirteenth Georgia, Col. Marcellus Doug¬
lass, having crossed the river at Warrenton Springs, and
Early, who had crossed a mile below, were cut off from
the rest of the army by rising water. Two Georgia and
six Virginia regiments were in this dangerous position
during two nights and a day, and without food, but main-

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY. 179

tained such a bold and defiant attitude that Pope hesi¬
tated to attack with his entire force, believing- he had
before him all of Jackson’s corps. They recrossed with¬
out molestation on the 24th, and Stuart having made his
celebrated capture of General Pope’s headquarters at
Catlett’s Station, Jackson moved forward between the
Federal army and Washington. On the night of the
26th, Jackson states in his official report, “learning that
the enemy had collected at Manassas Junction, a station
about seven miles distant, stores of great value, I deemed
it important that no time should be lost in securing them.
Notwithstanding the darkness of the night, and the fatigu¬
ing march, which would, since dawn, be over thirty miles
before reaching the junction, Brigadier-General Trimble
volunteered to proceed there forthwith with the Twenty-
first North Carolina, Lieut. -Col. S. Fulton commanding,
and the Twenty-first Georgia, Maj. T. C. Glover command¬
ing, in all about 500 men, and capture the place. I accepted
the gallant offer, and gave him orders to move without
delay.’’ Gen. J. E. B. Stuart was subsequently directed
to participate. The command set out about 9 o’clock
p. m. , and as it approached the junction at midnight,
came under fire from two batteries of the enemy. The
two regiments took position on opposite sides of the rail¬
road and charged toward the flashes of the guns. “Send¬
ing an officer to the north side of the railroad, ” said
Trimble, “to ascertain the success of the Georgia regi¬
ment, he could not immediately find them, and cried
out, ‘Halloo! Georgia, where are you?’ The reply was,

‘ Here ! all right ! we have taken a battery. ’ ‘ So have we, ’
was the response, and cheers rent the air.’’ This was
one of the most daring and famous exploits of the war.
Three hundred prisoners were captured, and a vast
amount of stores and munitions of war.

In the battle of July 28th, beginning the three days’
struggle called Second Manassas, the brigades of Lawton
and Trimble, constituting the left of the Confederate

180

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

line of attack, advanced to close quarters with the enemy
and suffered severely, Lawton’s loss being very heavy.
General Ewell was wounded and General Lawton took
command of the division. On the following day Lawton
formed his division in a line perpendicular to the railroad
track, facing Grove ton. In the afternoon, considerably
weakened in consequence of Early’s brigade and the
Thirteenth Georgia having been sent to the relief of the
brigades of Thomas and Gregg, Lawton was vigorously
attacked, but he held the railroad and drove back the
enemy. General Trimble being wounded, Capt. William

F. Brown, of the Twelfth Georgia, the ranking officer
present, took command of his brigade. In the battle of
the 30th the Georgians of Lawton’s division were in the
heat of the fight, and contributed in large degree to
the glorious victory. Gen. E. L. Thomas’ brigade re¬
pulsed the repeated attacks of the enemy, and Col. R. W.
Folsom, Fourteenth, Lieut. -Col. S. M. Manning, Forty-
ninth, and Maj. W. L. Grice, Forty- fifth, commanded
their regiments with skill and gallantry.

Longstreet’s corps began its distinctive career in his¬
tory as it came through Thoroughfare gap to participate
in the final fighting of this campaign. Longstreet
brought up to Manassas plains the divisions of R. H.
Anderson, D. R. Jones, C. M. Wilcox, John B. Hood
and J. L. Kemper. With Anderson was Wright’s Geor¬
gia brigade; with Hood the Eighteenth regiment, in
Hood’s brigade. D. R. Jones’ division was almost en¬
tirely Georgian, including the brigades of Toombs and

G. T. Anderson, and Drayton’s brigade, in which were
the Fiftieth and Fifty- first Georgia. While Jackson was
fighting near Groveton on the 28th, Colonel Anderson
reached Thoroughfare gap, and the Eighth Georgia,
which he sent forward under Col. Benjamin Peck, was
the first to pass through. Directly afterward it was as¬
sailed by a brigade of the enemy, who slowly forced the
Georgia regiment back until it was reinforced by the First

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

181

regulars, Maj. John D. Walker; Eighth, Lieutenant-
Colonel Towers; Seventh, Col. W. T. Wilson, and Elev¬
enth, Lieut. -Col. William Luffman. The line then
advanced in the most gallant manner, the men climbing
the rough mountain side on their hands and knees to
reach the enemy, who occupied the crest of the hill, and
delivered a murderous fire in their faces as they made
the perilous ascent. Because of the nature of the ground
and the impenetrable thickets, only the First regulars
obtained a favorable position, but they inflicted severe
punishment upon the enemy. Capt. John G. Patton
brought down five with his pistol. “The regulars,’’ said
Colonel Anderson, “both officers and men, behaved with
distinguished gallantry, as they have on every occasion
in which they have met the enemy, and I only regret
that our army is not composed of just such men.’’ On
the 30th this brigade fought on the right of Toombs’
brigade, held its ground under a galling fire, and then
drove the Federal brigade confronting it from the field.
Seven or eight of the field officers and over fifty company
officers were among the killed and wounded. C. C. Har-
wick, acting assistant adjutant-general, was severely
wounded at the outset, and Col. W. T. Wilson, Seventh
Georgia, the gray-haired hero of many fights, who so
gallantly led the charge at Dam No. 1, near Yorktown,
was killed while cheering on his regiment.

Toombs’ brigade, under Col. Henry L. Benning,
was also engaged at Thoroughfare gap, particularly
the Twentieth regiment, which led in the advance
under Maj. J. D. Waddell, and charging upon a hill
on the right of the gap, drove out a body of the
enemy who might otherwise have done much mis¬
chief. When it had been reinforced by the Second
regiment, Lieut. -Col. W. R. Holmes, the enemy was
compelled to abandon his attempt to occupy this emi¬
nence with a battery. On the 30th, the brigade advanced
past the Chinn house, and the Twentieth, after a for-

182

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

ward movement of more than two miles, a large part of
the way in double-quick time, and exposed to shot and
shell, drove two regiments of the enemy out of a dense
pine thicket and captured a battery. Emerging from
this wood the regiment, under Colonel Benning’s direc¬
tion, charged a Federal battery of six pieces, and, though
now exhausted and with numbers reduced to about 300
all told, they drove the cannoneers from their guns, held
the position confronting seven hostile flags, supported by
at least six times the numbers of the Confederates, and
only retired, and then in good order, when enfiladed by
another battery. Major Waddell was conspicuous in this
day’s work, brilliantly seconded by his senior captain,
E. M. Seago, and Lieut. W. N. Hutchins, acting adju¬
tant. Capts. H. C. Mitchell, S. W. Blance, W. F. Denny,
A. B. Ross and R. D. Little, and Lieuts. T. S. Fontaine,
W. W. Beazel, J. A. Maddox, W. L. Abbott and J. B.
Richards were honorably mentioned. Lieuts. Robert
Jordan, C. H. Culbreath and J. F. Spear were killed in
the discharge of heroic duty, and Captains Seago, Blance,
Denny, and Lieutenants Fontaine, J. T. Scott, John M.
Granberry, J. L. Carter and J. T. Hammack were
wounded. “Color-bearer James Broderick was shot
down at the instant of planting the colors in front of the
belching cannon. Private Nunn seized the flagstaff ere
it fell and bore it through the remainder of the conflict. ’ ’
The loss of the Twentieth in the two days was 2 1 killed,
125 wounded and 6 missing. Over 100 of the gallant
300 were barefooted, and left bloody footprints as they
made their way through the thorns and briers. The
other regiments of the brigade fought creditably under
the immediate direction of General Toombs. The
Seventeenth lost 101 out of 200 in action. Maj. John
H. Pickett, commanding, fell late in the battle, desper¬
ately wounded, and hardly had A. C. Jones, next in rank,
assumed command, before he was killed by a ball through
the temples. Capt. Hiram L. French then took the

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY. 183

leadership. Among the wounded were Lieuts. John C.
Talbert, Robert P. Tondee and M. H. Marshall. Lieut.
John B. Pickett, Company I, was complimented for
bravery in advancing beyond the lines during the hottest
firing to ascertain the true position of the enemy. Capt.
A. McC. Lewis commanded the Second in these battles,
and reported a loss of 2 killed and 53 wounded out of
163. The Fifteenth lost 6 killed and 54 wounded.

General Hood reported the gallant conduct of the
Eighteenth Georgia, which lost 19 killed and 114 wound¬
ed, mentioning Col. W. T. Wofford as conspicuous for
bravery. Lieut. -Col. S. Z. Ruff and Maj. J. C. Griffis
fell severely wounded while nobly discharging their
duties. On the 29th the regiment captured a number of
prisoners and the colors of the Twenty-fourth New York,
Private Northcutt, of Captain O’Neall’s company, tear¬
ing the colors from the hands of the wounded Federal
soldier who refused to yield them. On the 30th the
regiment, with the Fifth Texas and Hampton’s legion,
routed and captured the greater part of the Fifth and
Tenth New York, the Eighteenth passing over a battery
of four guns in its triumphal progress and capturing the
colors of the Tenth New York. Advancing upon a sec¬
ond battery, the regiment was subjected to a flank attack
and was withdrawn. Sergeant Weems, the daring color-
bearer, was shot down before the second battery, as were
also Sergeants McMurry and Jones. Among the killed
were Lieuts. S. V. Smith and E. L. Brown.

The official records contain very meager references to
other commands, but the part taken by Georgians in
this very important campaign, which relieved Virginia
of invasion and transferred the field of battle to
Maryland, was indelibly written in the general casualties.
The report of Medical Director Guild shows that the
heaviest loss of killed and wounded in any brigade of
the Confederate army on Manassas plains in August,
1862, was that of Anderson’s Georgia brigade, 612, and

184 CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

the second heaviest loss of any regiment was by the Elev¬
enth Georgia, 198. Lawton’s brigade lost 456; Toombs’,
331; Thomas’, 261; Wright’s (the Georgians), 155. To
these add the loss of 9 by the Fifty-first Georgia, 133 by
the Eighteenth, and 189 by the Twenty-first and Twelfth,
and we have a total of about 2,200, nearly a third of the
aggregate Confederate loss, 7,244 killed and wounded, as
stated by the same authority. A few more Georgians
suffered with their comrades at Chantilly. Conspicuous
among those who fell there was Capt. W. F. Brown,
Twelfth Georgia, in command of Trimble’s brigade.

Early in September, covered by a cloud of Stuart’s
cavalry before the United States capital, the army crossed
the Potomac and advanced to Frederick City, Md.
Thence Jackson’s corps and portions of the divisions of
McLaws and John G. Walker were diverted westward to
attack the 12,000 Federal soldiers at Harper’s Ferry, and
the remainder of Lee’s forces marched to Sharpsburg. The
army of McClellan, hesitating at first, although largely
superior in numbers to the combined Confederates, at
length pushed after Lee with considerable activity. The
movements of the enemy made it necessary for Lee to hold
the passes of South mountain, to give time for J ackson to
complete his work at Harper’s Ferry and rejoin him.
This work was performed with amazing intrepidity, and
conspicuous among the heroes of that day of great deeds,
September 14th, were the Georgians of Colquitt’s brigade,
who held the main road at the Boonsboro gap, and of
Cobb’s brigade, who withstood Franklin’s corps at
Crampton’s gap.

Colquitt’s brigade had marched from Richmond with
Hill, and its numbers were very much depleted by strag¬
gling on account of heavy marches, want of shoes and
deficient commissariat. Gen. D. H. Hill has related that
on the morning of the 14th he found Colquitt’s Georgi¬
ans at the eastern foot of the mountain, facing the enemy,
and he brought them back to the summit and placed the

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

185

Twenty-third and Twenty-eighth on the north side of the
pike behind a stone wall, while the Sixth and Twenty-
seventh and the Thirteenth Alabama were put on the
south side of the pike, protected by a dense wood. “The
brigade did not lose an inch of ground that day. The
skirmishers were driven in, but the line of battle on both
sides of the road was the same at io o’clock at night as it
was at 9 in the morning. ’’ The first attack of the enemy
was repulsed by skirmishers and a few companies of the
Sixth. When a more determined attack was made at
4 o’clock p. m. , four companies of skirmishers under
Capt. W. M. Arnold (Sixth) greeted it with an unex¬
pected volley. The Federal forces, many times supe¬
rior in numbers, rallying, assailed the position of the
Twenty-third and Twenty-eighth, and were twice hurled
back. General Colquitt reported: “The fight continued
with fury until after dark. Not an inch of ground was
yielded. The ammunition of many of the men was
exhausted, but they stood with bayonets fixed. I am
proud of the officers and men of my command for their
noble conduct on this day. Especial credit is due to
Col. W. P. Barclay of the Twenty-third, and Maj. Tully
Graybill, Twenty-eighth, who with their regiments met
and defeated the fiercest assaults of the enemy. ’’ Gen¬
eral Hill gave to Barclay the proud title of “The hero of
South Mountain.”

Gen. Howell Cobb had taken possession of Sandy
Hook, near Harper’s Ferry, and returned to Brownsville,
when he was ordered to hurry to the support of Munford
and Parham at Crampton’s gap, the southernmost pass
of South mountain. He marched forward with instruc¬
tions to hold the gap against overwhelming numbers, if
it cost the life of every man in his command. He put
his men on the flanks of Mahone’s brigade, and all went
well until the center was broken. Even then Cobb was
able to check the enemy’s advance by momentary rallies,
until, night coming on, he made a successful stand near

Ga 24

186

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

the foot of the mountain. The Tenth Georgia took
a conspicuous part in the fight here, and Col. W. C. Holt
was among the wounded. General Cobb was in com¬
mand of all the Confederate forces engaged, about 2,200,
and was assisted by General Semmes, who exposed him¬
self, as did General Cobb, with great intrepidity. Col.
John B. Lamar, a volunteer aide on the staff of General
Cobb, while rallying the men received a mortal wound
of which he died the next day. The loss of the Georgians
was very heavy, Cobb’s legion losing 190 killed, wounded
and missing out of 248 engaged ; the Sixteenth regiment 187
out of 368, the Twenty-fourth 126 out of 292, the Fifteenth
1 83 out of 402, the Troup artillery 4 out of 3 1 , and the Tenth
50 out of 173. Two-thirds of the losses were reported as
missing. General Cobb said in his report : ‘ ‘ For the most
successful rally made on the retreat from the crest of the
mountain I was indebted to a section of the Troup artil¬
lery under Lieut. Henry Jennings. By their prompt and
rapid firing they checked for a time the advance of the
enemy. ”

Meanwhile several Georgia commands had the great
honor of being with Stonewall Jackson in the investment
and capture of Harper’s Ferry, where the rich spoil con¬
sisted, according to the Official Records, of 12,520 prison¬
ers, 13,000 arms, 73 pieces of artillery and several hun¬
dred wagons. These commands were: In Lawton’s bri¬
gade, the Thirteenth, Twenty-sixth, Thirty-first, Thirty-
eighth, Sixtieth and Sixty-first Georgia; in Trimble’s
brigade, the Twelfth Georgia; in Archer’s brigade, the
Nineteenth Georgia; in Thomas’ brigade, the Thirty-fifth,
Forty-fifth and Forty-ninth Georgia. This great victory,
which cost so little loss of life, was greatly enjoyed by
Jackson’s gallant soldiers, who began at once the march
to Sharpsburg to join Lee in the great battle pending
against the overwhelming army of McClellan. The
blood shed at South Mountain by Georgians and other
Southern troops not only saved the trains of Lee’s army,

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

187

but also made possible Jackson’s triumph at Harper’s
Ferry.

In the bloody battle of September 17th, at Sharpsburg
and along Antietam creek, there were forty Georgia
regiments, including the cavalry of Cobb’s legion with
Stuart, and six batteries ; but the number of men engaged
in the entire Confederate army was less than would have
been brought into action by the Georgia commands alone,
if in approximately full strength. Brigades were reduced
to the dimensions of regiments, regiments to companies ;
but the remnant, footsore, weary and deprived of sleep,
held at bay nearly three times their number, and inflicted
such tremendous losses that they were permitted to re¬
turn to Virginia without molestation. The slaughter
was terrible among the Confederates as well as among
their opponents. Nearly one-fourth of the Southerners
who went into battle were killed or wounded.

After the artillery fighting, the battle of Sharpsburg
was opened by Hood’s brigade, under command of Col.
W. T. Wofford, Eighteenth Georgia, in front of the Dun-
ker church, on the evening of the 16th. About midnight
the Eighteenth and the rest of the brigade, having had
no regular issue of rations for three days, retired to
devote the rest of the night to cooking, and their place
was taken by Lawton’s brigade. Just after daylight the
Eighteenth lay down in line of battle under a storm of
shell from the enemy’s batteries, and at 7 o’clock charged
under fire and drove the Federals from the cornfield in
their front, but suffered such terrible losses that their
part of the work ended there. But 75 men were left fit
for duty out of 176. Lieuts. T. C. Underwood and J. M. D.
Cleveland were killed, and among the wounded were
Capts. J. A. Crawford and G. W. Maddox, and Lieuts.
M. J. Crawford, J. F. Maddox, O. W. Putnam, W. G. Cal-
ahan, J. Grant and D. B. Williams.

At this famous point of the field (the Dunker church),
Ewell’s division, under command of General Lawton,

188

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY .

fought with great heroism through the morning of the
17th. The Thirty-first, under Lieut. -Col. J. T. Crowder,
was on picket duty during the previous night. Lawton’s
brigade, under Col. Marcellus Douglass, and Trimble’s
under Colonel Walker, of Virginia, sustained a destruc¬
tive artillery attack at daybreak, followed by an assault of
infantry, and after a short time General Lawton received
a severe wound which compelled his withdrawal from
the field. Gen. Jubal A. Early then for the first time
assumed command of the division. The latter reported
of the fight:

Colonel Walker, by moving two of his regiments, the
Twenty-first Georgia and Twenty-first North Carolina,
and concentrating their fire and that of the Twelfth
Georgia upon a part of the enemy’s line in front of the
latter, succeeded in breaking it; and as a brigade of
fresh troops came up to the support of Lawton’s and
Hays’ brigades just at this time, Walker ordered an
advance, but the brigade which came up having fallen
back, he was compelled to halt, and finally to fall back to
his first position. His brigade (Trimble’s) had suffered
terribly. . . . Colonel Douglass, whose brigade had been
hotly engaged during the whole time, was killed, and
about half of the men had been killed, wounded and
captured.

The terrible nature of the conflict in which these
brigades had been engaged, and the steadiness with
which they maintained their position, are shown by the
losses they sustained. Lawton’s brigade suffered a loss
of 554 killed and wounded out of 1,150, and five regi¬
mental commanders out of six. Hays’ and Walker’s
brigades, together hardly equal in numbers to Lawton’s,
suffered the same loss, including all of the regimental
commanders but one. “In the death of Colonel Doug¬
lass,” said Early, “the country sustained a serious loss.
He was talented, courageous and devoted to his duty. ”
Maj. J. H. Lowe, Thirty-first Georgia, succeeded to the
command of Lawton’s brigade, being the senior officer
present not disabled. He reported the gallant conduct

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

189

oi Corp. Curtis A. Lowe, Company F, Sixty-first Georgia,
who, after the color-bearer and four of the color guard
were shot down, seized the colors and pressed forward,
calling on his comrades to follow their standard. A simi¬
lar tribute was paid to Private M. V. Hawes, Company
E, Thirty-first Georgia, who, after two of the color-bear¬
ers had been shot down, took the colors and carried
them, leading in the charge, until the regiment was
withdrawn. Lieuts. J. D. Hill, J. A. Adair, E. S. Bass
and Edwin Dallas were among the killed of the Thir¬
teenth, Lieut. D. P. Rice of the Twenty-sixth, Capt.
W. H. Battey of the Thirty-eighth, Maj. A. P. Macrae
and Capt. W. J. Mathews of the Sixty-first. Capt. James
G. Rodgers, commanding the Twelfth, was killed, and
Lieut. A. Henderson wounded, and Major Glover, com¬
manding the Twenty-first, was dangerously wounded.
The aggregate loss of the Thirteenth was 216, of the
Twenty-sixth 61, Thirty-first 53, Thirty-eighth 71, Sixti¬
eth 60, Sixty-first 104, Twelfth 59, Twenty-first 67.

The fighting thus briefly mentioned was on the extreme
left or north of the Confederate line. Just south of this
D. H. Hill’s division, about 3,000 infantry, with 26 cannon,
besides Cutts’ Georgia artillery battalion, was engaged.
Colquitt and Ripley were moved up to the support of
Hood at daybreak. The First line of the Federals was
broken, and the Confederates pushed vigorously forward
only to meet additional lines. “Colquitt had gone in
with ten field officers,” said Hill; “four were killed, five
badly wounded, and the tenth stunned by a shell. The
men were beginning to fall back, and efforts were made
to rally them in the bed of an old road (nearly at right
angles to the Hagerstown pike) which had been their
position previous to the advance. These efforts, how¬
ever, were only partially successful. Most of the brigade
took no further part in the action.” Here the gallant
Colonel Barclay, who had just achieved hearty plaudits
by his service at South Mountain, was killed. On the

190

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

same field of carnage ended the lives of Col. Levi B.
Smith, of the Twenty-seventh Georgia, and Lieut. -Col.
J. M. Newton and the modest and heroic Maj. P. Tracy,
of the Sixth. “The lamented Capt. W. F. Plane, of the
same regiment,” said Hill, “deserved special mention.
Of him it could be truly said that he shrank from no dan¬
ger, no fatigue and no exposure. Maj. Robert S. Smith,
Fourth Georgia, fell fighting most heroically. He had
received a military education and gave promise of emi¬
nence in his profession.” Capt. N. J. Garrison, com¬
manding the Twenty-eighth; Lieut. -Col. C. T. Zachry,
Twenty-seventh; Lieut. -Col. E. F. Best and Maj. J. H.
Huggins, Twenty-third, were severely wounded- and
Lieut. R. P. Jordan, acting assistant adjutant-general
of Colquitt’s brigade, fell in the course of gallant service.

Further south on the line, standing between the village
of Sharpsburg and the southernmost bridge on the Antie-
tam, was the division of D. R. Jones, six brigades but
only 2,430 men, to whom fell the duty of holding back
Burnside’s corps of the United States army. General
Toombs was ordered to defend the bridge with the Sec¬
ond and Twentieth Georgia regiments, Col. John B.
Cumming and Lieutenant-Colonel Holmes, and the Fif¬
tieth, about 100 strong, under Lieut. -Col. F. Kearse.
Toombs had an excellent position, and with 400 Georgi¬
ans performed one of the most important military feats
of the four years’ war, holding the bridge against Burn¬
side’s corps, or as much of it as could advance to the
attack. In Gen. R. E. Lee’s detailed report of the bat¬
tle, the only regiments mentioned by name are Cooke’s
North Carolina regiment, who held their ground without
ammunition in the center, and the Second and Twentieth
Georgia, who defended the bridge under command of
Toombs. Between 9 and 10 o’clock in the morning,
after a fierce cannonading, the enemy made an attempt
to carry the bridge by assault, but was repulsed with
great slaughter, and up to 1 o’clock made four other

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

191

attempts, with the same result. Then despairing of win¬
ning a passage from the brave 400, Burnside sent a force
across the river at fords below, and flanking Toombs
compelled his withdrawal. But after the bridge had
been abandoned by the Georgians, the enemy was so
impressed with the necessity for caution that he con¬
sumed two hours in getting across, and by that time A. P.
Hill was up from Harper’s Ferry and saved the Confed¬
erate army from this flank attack. After supplying his
brigade with ammunition, General Toombs returned to the
line of battle with the Fifteenth and Seventeenth, Major
Little’s battalion of the Eleventh, part of Kearse’s regi¬
ment, and part of the Twentieth under Colonel Cumming,
but found the Federals in the position he was ordered to
occupy and in possession of McIntosh’s battery and part
of the suburbs of Sharpsburg. Toombs decided instantly
to attack, though he had but about a fifth of the strength
of the enemy. Captain Troup, his gallant aide, rallied
a part of Kemper’s brigade and brought it into line with
the Georgians. The enemy advanced first, but was
thrown into confusion by an accurate volley, and a coun¬
tercharge followed which swept the Federals from
Toombs’ front and brought the battery again into Con¬
federate hands. The enemy did not stop short of the
bridge, where a battery was hurried across to check the
Georgians. But the Fifteenth and Twentieth, aided by
Richardson’s battery, soon cleared the enemy from the
side of the river he had fought so hard to gain, and
Toombs at nightfall was at liberty to reoccupy the position
he had held in the morning. This gallant action was
not without losses. Says General Toombs’ report:

Colonel Millican, of the Fifteenth, who had distin¬
guished himself both at Manassas and in this action, . . .
fell while gallantly leading his regiment in the final
charge. . . . Lieutenant-Colonel Holmes, who com¬
manded the Second regiment, fell near the close of his
heroic defense of the passage of the Antietam, and it is
due to him to say that, in my judgment, he has not left in

192

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

the armies of the republic a truer or braver soldier, and
I have never known a cooler, more efficient, or more skill¬
ful field officer. . . . Colonel Benning stood by his bri¬
gade on the Antietam, guiding, directing and animating
his officers and men with distinguished coolness, courage
and skill ; withdrew them from that perilous position and
again led them, with equal skill and courage, in the final
conflict with the enemy. He deserves the marked con¬
sideration of the government. Colonel Cumming, with
marked gallantry and skill, led his regiment throughout
the day, and after the long, bloody conflict at the bridge,
brought up one of its fragments to the last charge, and
was among the foremost in it. Maj. Skidmore Harris,
of the Second, after the fall of Colonel Holmes, though
suffering from a painful wound, stood firmly and gal¬
lantly by his command during the whole day. Colonel
Benning being in command of the brigade, and Lieut. -
Col. Wesley C. Hodges and Maj. J. H. Pickett both being
absent on account of severe wounds received by them in
former battles, Capt. John A. McGregor led the Seven¬
teenth regiment with ability, courage and skill. Major
Little led his battalion and the Eleventh Georgia with a
dashing courage and success which won the admiration of
his comrades. [Three times during the day Capt.
J. R. Troup rendered very important service in rallying
troops; and other aides, Capt. D. M. DuBose, Cadet
W. T Lamar, Capt. A. A. F. Hill, and Lieut. J. J.
Grant, and Courier Thomas Paschal were warmly com¬
mended.]

Col. G. T. Anderson’s Georgia brigade won new hon¬
ors fighting under D. H. Hill, but the gallant colonel
commanding reported that he could not discriminate by
mention of cases of individual bravery. The list of cas¬
ualties showed 894 killed, wounded and missing out of
about 2,200. The Georgians of Semmes’ and Cobb’s
brigades fought with McLaws. Col. C. C. Sanders,
Twenty-fourth Georgia, who commanded Cobb’s brigade
during the first part of the engagement, carried it for¬
ward in good order, and the brigade maintained its posi¬
tion and drove the enemy for some distance, retiring only
after losing 43 per cent, of its strength. General

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY. 193

Semmes supported General Stuart and drove the Federals
from his front. The Nineteenth Georgia, Archer’s bri¬
gade, Major Neal commanding, lost the gallant Capt.
T. W. Flynt at Sharpsburg. At Shepherdstown, sub¬
sequent to Sharpsburg, the regiment, with Thomas’ Geor¬
gia brigade, participated in the defeat of the Federal
pursuit.

The report of the Maryland campaign by D. H. Hill,
contained the following further honorable mention of
Georgians :

Brigadier-General Colquitt reports as specially deserv¬
ing notice for their gallantry . . . N. B. Neusan, color
sergeant, J. J. Powell, W. W. Glover, H. M. James, and
N. B. Lane, color guard, of the Sixth Georgia; and in
the same regiment, Corps. John Cooper, Joseph J. Wood,
Privates J. W. Tompkins, B. C. Lapsade, L. B. Hannah,
A. D. Simmons, W. Smith, J. M. Feltman and J. C.
Penn, and Capt. W. M. Arnold, who skillfully commanded
a battalion of skirmishers at South Mountain and Sharps¬
burg; Capt. James W. Banning, Twenty-eighth Georgia
distinguished for his intrepid coolness, fighting in the
ranks, gun in hand, and stimulating his men by his
words and example; W. R Johnson and William Goff,
Twenty-eighth. The officers commanding the Twenty-
seventh and Twenty-eighth Georgia regiments report that
it is impossible for them to make distinctions where so
many acted with distinguished bravery. In the Twenty-
seventh every commissioned officer except one was killed
or wounded at Sharpsburg, and this sole survivor was
unwilling to discriminate among so many brave men.
Colonel Doles, Fourth Georgia, who by the wounding
of General Ripley attained brigade command, commended
the gallant conduct of Capt. John C. Key, commanding
Forty-fourth, and Captain Read, assistant adjutant-gen¬
eral. Asst. Surg. William P. Young remained on the
field after he was wounded, caring for the suffering, and
was taken prisoner. Privates Thomas S. Carwright,
who fell with the colors of the Fourth in his hands,
Joseph L. Richardson, wounded, and Henry E. Welch
were distinguished, and Privates R. Dudley Hill and
Thomas J. Dingier, two lads in the Forty-fourth, attracted
in a special manner the attention of their commander.

Ga 25

194

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY,

Equally distinguished were Lieut. -Col. Phil. Cook, Capts.
W. H. Willis and F. H. DeGraffenreid, and Lieuts.
E. A. Hawkins, R. M. Bisel, W. W. Hulbert, J. T. Gay
(wounded), J. G. Stephens, C. R. Ezell, F. T. Snead,
L. M. Cobb (killed), and J. C. Macon (severely wounded).

Sharpsburg was the last of the terrible battles of the
summer of 1862. In quick succession had followed
Mechanicsville, Gaines’ Mill, Malvern Hill and the others
of the bloody Seven Days, Slaughter’s Mountain, Second
Manassas, South Mountain and Sharpsburg, all within
ninety days. The army of Northern Virginia was ter¬
ribly reduced in numbers. But this shattered army, by
the tenacity with which it held its ground and the suc¬
cess with which it recovered positions temporarily lost,
had so impressed McClellan that he dared not risk
another attack upon Lee, who remained defiant in his
front throughout the 18th and then retreated unmo¬
lested. Though Longstreet has expressed the opinion
that “at the close of the day 10,000 fresh troops could
have come in and taken Lee’s army and everything it
had,” Gen. Jacob D. Cox, of the Union army, has declared
that McClellan was so impressed by the complete defeat
of his own right wing that he held Porter’s corps of fresh
troops in reserve. Says Cox: “McClellan’s refusal to
use them was the result of his continued conviction
through all the day after Sedgwick’s defeat that Lee was
overwhelmingly superior in force, and was preparing to
return a crushing blow upon our right flank. He was keep¬
ing something on hand to cover a retreat if that wing
should be driven back. . . . McClellan estimated Lee’s
troops at nearly double their actual number. ” Indeed,
he estimated them at much more than double their
actual number, and it was this that kept him from
attacking on the 18th, although he received that day
15,000 additional troops.

Lee, having returned with his army to Virginia, there
began a period of recruiting. At home thousands of

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

195

families were stricken with sorrow, but the great heart
of the State, though overwhelmed with grief, was still
loyal to the cause, and more brave men went forward to
fill up the depleted ranks. November ist the Tenth bat¬
talion of Georgia volunteers, Maj. John E. Rylander, at
Macon, was ordered to report to General Lee at Winches¬
ter, and the First regulars were ordered to Macon. The
Tenth battalion, after some delay caused by other orders,
went to Virginia and joined Lee’s army at Hamilton’s
crossing, December 27, 1862, just two weeks after the
battle of Fredericksburg, relieving the First regulars,
who thereupon went to Georgia.

At the battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862,
Georgia soldiers achieved no less fame than in previous
encounters. With the two important epochs of that bat¬
tle, the attempt to break the line of A. P. Hill’s division
and the assault upon Marye’s hill, the names of Georgia
commands are indissolubly associated.

It was the Nineteenth Georgia, of Archer’s brigade,
Lieut. -Col. A. J. Hutchins commanding, that after gal¬
lantly foiling the direct assault of the Federals on the
right of Lee’s army, was pushed from position by the
enemy moving to their rear through a gap unfortunately
left between Archer’s and Lane’s brigades, and it was
Gen. Edward L. Thomas who, in the words of A. P.
Hill, “responding to the call of General Lane, rapidly
threw forward his brigade of Georgians by the flank, and
deploying by successive formations, squarely met the
enemy, charged them, and, joined by the Seventh and
part of the Eighteenth North Carolina, drove them back,
with tremendous losses, to their original position. ’ ’ At
the close of the struggle in this quarter, General Hill
reported, “The enemy having been repulsed at all points,
my brigades remained in their original positions, save
General Thomas’ (Fourteenth, Thirty-fifth, Forty-fifth
and Forty-ninth Georgia), which was not recalled from
the position it had so gallantly won in the front line. ” The

196

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

loss in killed and wounded was for the Nineteenth 54, Four¬
teenth 132, Thirty-fifth 89, Forty-fifth 48, Forty-ninth 61.
Among the killed were Lieuts. W. H. Putnam, C. John¬
son, and W. J. Solomon.

Another column of the enemy encountered Hill’s re¬
serve, and Gen. Maxcy Gregg was mortally wounded
while rallying his men. To the relief of this gallant
command Lawton’s old brigade went forward, now 2,000
strong, under the command of Col. E. N. Atkinson, who,
being severely wounded in the midst of the battle, was
succeeded by Colonel Evans, of the Thirty-first. The
brigade had been in line under fire during the morning,
the Thirteenth regiment, Col. J. M. Smith, on the right ;
and thence to the left the Sixtieth, Col. W. H. Stiles;
Sixty- first, Col. J. H. Lamar; Thirty-eighth, Capt. Wil¬
liam L. McLeod; Thirty-first, Col. C. A. Evans, and the
Twenty-sixth, Capt. B. F. Grace. The brigade gallantly
swept the enemy back, driving them at the point of the
bayonet from the railroad cut and into the wood beyond,
where the pursuit was carried with such energy by the
regiments of Stiles, Lamar, McLeod and Evans, that both
parties entered the ditches beyond almost together. At
the railroad and in the ditches a large number of prison¬
ers were captured and sent to the rear, among them one
colonel and several officers of minor grade. A battery
on a hill 200 yards distant tempted the Georgians still
further, but after they had caused the guns to be aban¬
doned and were about to take possession, a strong flank
movement against them made it necessary to withdraw
from a dangerously exposed position. Among the offi¬
cers commended by Colonel Evans in his report were
Colonel Lamar, wounded; Maj. C. W. McArthur, Capt.
Peter Brenan, Col. W. H. Stiles, and Capt. Edward P.
Lawton, adjutant-general of the brigade, distinguished
for heroic activity at the close of the fight, when he
received a dangerous wound, and was unavoidably left
on the open plain. This brave staff officer died a few

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

197

days later. The Twelfth Georgia, Col. Z. T. Conner, and
Twenty-first, Col. J. T. Mercer, also participated in this
movement. Lieut. -Col. T. B. Scott, of the Twelfth, was
killed while nobly doing his duty, and Lieut. Thomas J.
Verdery, of the Twenty-first, was also among the
slain.

But the most famous incident of this battle, as often
quoted among the glorious defenses of military history
as is the charge at Cemetery hill among the assaults,
was the performance of Cobb’s brigade at Marye’s hill.
His heroic command was now composed of the Sixteenth
regiment, Col. Goode Bryan ; Eighteenth, Col. W. T.
Wofford; Twenty-fourth, Col. Robert McMillan; Cobb’s
legion, Lieut. -Col. L. J. Glenn, and Phillips’ legion, Col.
W. Phillips, under the command of Brig. -Gen. Thomas
R. R. Cobb, who had succeeded Gen. Howell Cobb. On
the night of December nth, the brigade had taken its
position in the Telegraph road, a sunken highway at the
base of Marye’s hill, on the side of which, next the town,
was a stone wall, shoulder high, against which the earth
was banked, making an almost impregnable defense.
When on the morning of the 1 3th the Federals in great
masses of troops advanced from the town of Fredericks¬
burg, they could not see the fatal sunken road, nor know
that any Confederate troops were nearer than the sum¬
mits of the hills. Marching in double-quick time, the
United States troops swarmed up in the field in front of
Cobb’s brigade until the space was packed. The Confed¬
erate artillery poured shot and shell into these devoted
masses, causing great carnage, but they pressed forward
steadily until they came within range of the Georgians
behind the stone wall, when a storm of lead was poured
into their advancing ranks and they were swept from the
field like chaff before the wind. Another blue line was
formed and sent forward to the carnival of death. It fell
back shattered. Yet another; and when the fourth came,
the ground was covered so closely with the dead and

198

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

wounded that it impeded the advance of the later aspi¬
rants for glory or death. In this fourth charge a gallant
Federal officer came within ioo feet of Cobb’s line before
he fell, but the great mass of the dead was piled at
about ioo yards distance, beyond which no organized
body was permitted to approach. In spite of these ter¬
rible reverses, a fifth and a sixth charge were made before
night came to end the terrible slaughter. The musketry
alone killed and wounded about 5,000, to which the artil¬
lery added enough to make 7,000 maimed, dead and dying,
lying on that horrible field of destruction.

General McLaws has written that about 1 p. m. Gen¬
eral Cobb reported that he was short of ammunition. ‘ ‘ I
sent his own very intelligent and brave courier, little
Johnny Clark, from Augusta, Ga., to bring up his ord¬
nance supplies, and directed General Kershaw to rein¬
force General Cobb with two of his South Carolina regi¬
ments, and I also sent the Sixteenth Georgia, which had
been detached, to report to General Cobb.” General
McLaws also tells how a Georgia boy, William Crumley,
an orderly of General Kershaw, seeing his chief’s horse
in a very dangerous position, rode the animal up a slope,
exposed to the hottest fire of the enemy, left him in a
safe place, and returning by the same way with an infe¬
rior horse, rejoined the general, who, until Crumley’s
return, was ignorant of his daring feat. While Kershaw
was moving forward, General Cobb fell mortally wounded
during the third assault upon his line, and Kershaw took
command of the line and Colonel McMillan of the bri¬
gade. General Cobb’s wound was by a musket ball in
the calf of the leg. He was carried to the field hospital
in the rear and given every attention, but he died soon
afterward. Gen. R. E. Lee alluded to him as one of the
South’s noblest citizens and the army’s bravest and most
distinguished officers, and the whole nation joined with
unaffected sympathy in the sorrow which overwhelmed
his native State. As General McLaws has said, every one

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY. 199

esteemed him warmly who knew his great intellect and
good heart.

The losses of Cobb’s brigade were as follows: Staff,

3 wounded; Sixteenth regiment, 4 killed, 62 wounded,

4 missing; Eighteenth, 11 killed, 47 wounded; Twenty-
fourth, 5 killed, 31 wounded; Phillips’ legion, 13 killed,
55 wounded; aggregate, 235. Among the killed were
Lieut. J. S. Bowring, Capt. Walter S. Brewster and
Lieut. -Col. R. T. Cook.

Capt. John P. W. Read’s battery (Pulaski artillery),
Capt. Henry H. Carlton’s battery (Troup artillery), Capt.
H. N. Ells’ battery (Macon artillery), and Capts. H. M.
Ross’ and John Lane’s batteries (Companies A and E of
Cutts’ Sumter battalion), were on the crest of the hills
occupied by the division of General McLaws. One of
Carlton’s guns on this occasion was commanded by Lieut.
W. F. Anderson of Ells’ battery. These, with batteries
from other States, 48 guns in all, were under command
of Col. Henry Coalter Cabell. The fire of these guns
upon the charging columns of the enemy was, according
to the reports of the officers commanding on both sides,
very destructive to the Federals, as was also that of the
guns on Marye’s heights, under command of Lieut. -Col.
E. P. Alexander, of Georgia. Capt. John Milledge’s bat¬
tery of eight rifled guns was sent to the support of Jack¬
son’s wing, and according to the report of Gen. W. N.
Pendleton, “was useful on the river, and with Major
Pelham in his successful dash upon the enemy when
menacing our right flank.’’ Of the batteries of Captains
Lane and Ross, General Pendleton says that theirs, “as
of best guns, were most in requisition and rendered most
service.’’ Capt. G. M. Patterson’s battery (B of the
Sumter battalion), with one section of Ross’, under Maj.
T. Jefferson Page, Jr., shared in the defense of General
Hood’s front.

During the fighting at Fredericksburg the cavalry of
Cobb’s Georgia legion accompanied Gen. Wade Hampton

200

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

on an expedition to Dumfries, which was completely suc¬
cessful. In his report General Hampton spoke in the
highest terms of the conduct of all his officers and men.
“They bore the privation and fatigue of the march — three
nights in the snow — without complaint, and were always
prompt and ready to carry out my orders. ’ ’

CHAPTER IX.

GEORGIA IN 1863— FORT M’ALLISTER — DESTRUCTION
OF THE NASHVILLE — ORGANIZATION ON THE
COAST IN MARCH -THE DEFENSES OF SAVANNAH
—LOSS OF THE ATLANTA— STREIGHT’S RAID AND
CAPTURE— DISTRESS IN THE STATE.

WITH the beginning of 1863 the United States
authorities were collecting at Charleston harbor
a fleet of new ironclads, built after the pattern
of the Monitor, and one of these, the Montauk, was sent
down below Savannah by Admiral Dupont for a trial of ■
its effectiveness against Fort McAllister. The latter
work, constructed by Confederate engineers on Genesis
point, guarded the approaches to Savannah by the
Ogeechee river, and was in charge of Maj. John B.
Gallie, supported by troops under Col. R. H. Anderson.
The main part of its armament was one rifled 32-pounder
and one 8-inch columbiad. Above the fort lay the block¬
ade-runner Nashville, anxiously awaiting an opportunity
to leave the Ogeechee. The Montauk, under command
of John L. Worden, who fought the Virginia in Hampton
Roads, steamed up near the obstructions on the Ogee¬
chee, January 27th, followed by the gunboats Seneca,
Wissahickon, Dawn and Williams, which anchored a mile
astern. A combat ensued which raged for four hours
between the gunners of the fort and the monitor. The
gunnery of the Georgians was so excellent, according to
the Federal accounts, that the monitor was repeatedly hit
and all the shots came close to her, but her armor pro¬
tected her from damage. On the other hand, the Fed-
erals could not see that their fire had produced any
material effect on the fort, and they withdrew defeated
after all the shells on board had been used.

Ga 26

201

202

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

A fiercer engagement followed on February ist. Ac¬
cording to the report of Colonel Anderson, the attack
began at 7 =45 a. m. , participated in by the monitor, three
gunboats and one ironclad. As the vessels approached,
Capt. Arthur Shaaff, commanding the First battalion
sharpshooters, lined the river bank with his men, pre¬
pared to annoy the enemy if the obstructions were passed.
Martin’s light battery and Captain McAllister’s troop
were held in reserve; two rifle guns of the Chatham
artillery, under Lieutenant Whitehead, were placed in
pits on a bluff a mile to the rear, and the guns of the
Nashville were taken out and mounted about seven miles
up the river under the command of Captain Baker, while
the steamer was put in readiness to be sunk if necessary
to keep her from capture by the enemy. The Federal
monitor took position at a distance of 800 to 1,000 yards,
while the wooden boats lay two miles east. The fort
opened fire and for five hours the combat continued.
According to the Federal report, the Confederate fire was
accurate and the monitor was hit forty-six times, but the
weight of metal thrown at her was not sufficient to do
harm. Colonel Anderson’s official account of this fight
was as follows:

The enemy fired steadily and with remarkable precis¬
ion ; at times their fire was terrible. Their mortar firing
was unusually fine, a large number of their shells burst¬
ing directly over the battery. The ironclad’s fire was
principally directed at the 8-inch columbiad, and at
about 8:15 o’clock the parapet in front of this gun was
so badly breached as to leave the gun entirely exposed.
The detachment did not leave their gun or evince the
slightest fear, but in a most gallant and determined man¬
ner fought their gun to the close of the action, refusing
to be relieved. The name of the brave officer who com¬
manded this gun is First Lieut. W. D. Dixon, of the
Republican Blues, First Georgia volunteer regiment. At
8:30 a. m. one of the 32-pounders was disabled, one of
the trunnions being knocked off. The same shot also
killed Maj. John B. Gallie, Twenty-second battalion

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

203

Georgia artillery, the gallant commander of the battery.
Prior to this he had been wounded in the face by a frag¬
ment of shell, but refused to be relieved, and continued
notwithstanding his suffering, inspiring the men with his
own gallant and unconquerable spirit up to the time he
was killed. Thus perished nobly a brave, good and gal¬
lant soldier. Capt. G. W. Anderson, Jr., upon Major
Gallie’s death succeeded to the command of the battery,
and displayed during the whole action the utmost cool¬
ness and gallantry, as did Capt. Robert Martin, com¬
manding the io-inch mortar; Capt. G. A. Nicoll, Company
F, Twenty-second artillery, and every officer of the bat¬
tery. The whole fire of the Confederate battery was
concentrated upon the ironclad.

Again the Federal gunboats had suffered defeat from
the plucky little Confederate fort.

On February 27th the Nashville, or Rattlesnake, as she
was frequently called, had the misfortune to run aground
not far above the obstructions in the river. On the fol¬
lowing morning Worden, having observed this, steamed
down under the guns of the fort and to within a point
about 1,200 yards from the cruiser. He then opened fire
on her with 15 -inch shells, entirely disregarding the shot
which was hurled at him from Anderson’s guns. In a
very few minutes the cruiser was doomed. Flames burst
out from the exploding shells, and a black column of
smoke rose above her rigging. At 9:20 her pivot gun
exploded, and half an hour later her magazine blew up,
tearing the vessel into smoking, blackened fragments.
But not without injury did the Montauk retire from
striking this severe blow at the Confederate navy. As
she steamed down the river she encountered a torpedo in
the channel, and was compelled to run upon a bank to
repair damages, her pumps keeping her afloat with
difficulty.

Yet another, and a still more formidable attempt to
subdue the gallant Georgia gunners in the sand and mud
batteries on the Ogeechee was made on March 3d, by
three new monitors, the Passaic, Capt. Percival Drayton ;

204

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

the Patapsco, Commander Ammen, and the Nahant, Com¬
mander Downes. The operation of these revolving float¬
ing batteries was not familiar to the Confederate gunners,
but the men stood manfully to their guns, and soon dis¬
covered that the monitor was not such a formidable
monster after all, particularly against sand batteries.
For seven hours the 15 and 11-inch shell and shot were
hurled at McAllister, and the mortar boats kept up the
din all night following, the only effect being to tempo¬
rarily dismount the 8-inch gun and the 42-pounder and
slightly wound two men. Next morning the fort was as
good as ever. This experiment led Admiral Dupont,
who was preparing for a naval attack at Charleston, to
report that, ‘ ‘ Whatever degree of impenetrability the mon¬
itors might have, there was no corresponding quality of
destructiveness against forts.” Horace Greeley, in his
‘‘American Conflict,” says that from this time the Union
fleets ‘‘saved their ammunition by letting Fort McAllister
alone. ”

At this period great apprehension was felt on the coast
regarding the fleet which was known to be fitting out in
the North for invasion of the South by sea. Either
Charleston or Savannah, and more probably both, was to
be the object of this expedition. On February 17th, Gen¬
eral Beauregard issued a proclamation announcing that it
was his solemn duty to urge all persons in the two threat¬
ened cities unable to take an active part in defense to
retire. ‘‘It is hoped,” he said, ‘‘that this temporary sep¬
aration of some of you from your homes will be made
without alarm or undue haste, thus showing that the only
feeling that animates you in this hour of supreme trial
is the regret of being unable to participate in the defense
of your homes, your altars and the graves of your kin¬
dred. Carolinians and Georgians ! the hour is at hand to
prove your devotion to your country’s cause. Let all
able-bodied men, from the seaboard to the mountains,
rush to arms. Be not exacting in the choice of weapons;

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

205

pikes and scythes will do for exterminating your enemies,
spades and shovels for protecting your friends. ”

The organization of Confederate forces in the district
of Georgia, under Gen. H. W. Mercer, was reported in
March as follows :

Brigade of Gen. W. H. Taliaferro — Thirty-second regi¬
ment, Col. George P. Harrison ; Forty-seventh regiment,
Col. G. W. M. Williams; Fourth Louisiana battalion,
Col. J. McEnery.

Brigade of Gen. W. H. T. Walker — Twenty-fifth regi¬
ment, Col. C. C. Wilson; Twenty-ninth regiment, Col.
William J. Young; Thirtieth regiment, Col. Thomas W.
Mangham.

Savannah river batteries and other defenses — First of
Georgia, Col. C. H. Olmstead; Fifty-fourth regiment,
Col. Charlton H. Way; Sixty-third regiment, Col. G. A.
Gordon; First battalion sharpshooters, Capt. A. Shaaff;
battalion Savannah volunteer guard, Maj. John Screven;
Emmet rifles, Capt. George W. Anderson; Fourth cav¬
alry, Col. D. L. Clinch; Fifth cavalry, Col. Robert H.
Anderson; cavalry battalion, Maj. E. C. Anderson, Jr.;
battalion partisan rangers, Maj. John M. Millen; Twenty-
second battalion artillery, Col. E. C. Anderson ; Chatham
light artillery, Capt. Joseph S. Cleghorn; Chestatee
light artillery, Capt. Thomas H. Bomar; Columbus light
artillery, Capt. Edward Croft; Joe Thompson artillery,
Capt. Cornelius R. Hanleiter; Martin’s light artillery,
Capt. Robert Martin; Read’s light artillery, Lieut. J. A.
Maxwell; Terrell’s light artillery, Capt. E. G. Dawson.

The First regulars, under Colonel Magill, was on duty
in Florida, under Gen. Howell Cobb ; the Eighth battal¬
ion, Maj. B. F. Hunt, was on James island, S. C. ; the
Forty-sixth regiment, Col. P. H. Colquitt, and the
Twenty-first battalion of cavalry, Maj. William P. White,
were at Charleston. The total number of effectives on
duty in the State for coast service was a little over 12,000,
while the forces in South Carolina and Florida, from
which reinforcements might be hoped in emergency, were
about 17,000.

The defenses of Savannah at this time were quite elab-

206

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

orate and extensive, but were weak in the guns of great
penetration demanded already in the development of
warfare which had been brought about since April, 1861.
To oppose the passage of vessels up the river, there were
obstructions at the head of Elba island, a mile and a
quarter below Fort Jackson, and at the same place was
the floating battery Georgia. Near Fort Jackson was
Battery Lee, and opposite, across the river, were Battery
Cheves and Battery Lawton. Still farther up the river
were Fort Boggs and Fort Hutchinson, opposite, and the
Bay battery on the edge of town. The total armament
of the Savannah river defenses was 44 guns and 4 mortars.

On the southward coast region there were Fort McAllis¬
ter, Rosedew battery, Beaulieu battery, Isle of Hope siege
train, Thunderbolt battery, Greenwich battery, and Fort
Bartow at Carston’s bluff, mounting in all 49 guns, 3
mortars and 12 field guns. On the lines extending from
the swamp west of the city, around from the south and
east to Fort Boggs, were mounted 41 guns. But it
appears from the report of the board convened at Ogle¬
thorpe barracks, consisting of Generals Mercer, Talia¬
ferro and Walker, and Capt. W. W. Gordon, that many
of the guns were ineffective, and that a large increase in
the number of guns and gunners, as well as troops in
reserve, was needed.

On June 8, 1863, two United States gunboats, and one
transport towing two large boats loaded with troops,
started from St. Simon’s island in the direction of Bruns¬
wick. The landing was disputed by Sergts. J. W. Taylor
and Alexander Burney, with the Brunswick pickets, and
after incessant firing for about three-quarters of an hour
the boats withdrew. When Corp. A. E. Foreman, Cor¬
poral Lamb and Corp. T. E. Hazzard saw the boats leave
St. Simon’s island, they had hastened with all the men
they could spare and greatly aided Taylor and Burney
in repelling the enemy. Capt. W. W. Hazzard, of Com¬
pany G, Fourth Georgia cavalry (Col. D. L. Clinch),

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

207

seeing two boats ascend the river, and fearing for the
safety of the salt works some seven miles up, ordered
Lieutenant Grant, with detachments from Sergeants
Taylor and Burney and such other men as he could spare,
about 30 in all, to take a good position and dispute every
attempt at landing, while he hastened with the remainder
of his command to the salt works. He found one boat
lying at the mouth of the creek leading to the works, and
another going back to Brunswick. After firing about
fifty shots, the one threatening the salt works returned and
joined the other at Brunswick Upon the repulse of the
Federalsthe largest boat returned to the sound, while the
others again ascended the river. The detachment under
Lieutenant Grant was now hurried to the salt works,
while a squad under the guidance of Julian Burnett, who
had that day shouldered his gun and volunteered his serv¬
ices, hastened to the railroad bridge. This had just been
fired by a party of the enemy, who retreated to their
barge on the approach of the Confederates. The latter
being conducted by Mr. Burnett to a point which the
barge was obliged to pass, poured a well-directed fire
into it at a distance of about 100 yards. Two officers fell,
and three oarsmen appeared wounded. As the gunboats
returned to the neighborhood of the salt works, Captain
Hazzard placed detachments under Lieutenants Scarlett,
R. S. Pyles and H. F. Grant to watch the movements of
the enemy. The Federals, however, made no further
efforts and both boats returned to the sound. The Con¬
federates lost one horse from a grapeshot ; but not a man
was wounded. It was reported that the enemy lost
three killed, one officer severely and others slightly
wounded. A few days later, Sergeant Burney was killed
by the accidental bursting of a shell. The activity and
foresight of Captain Hazzard and the gallantry of Lieu¬
tenant Grant and command were mentioned in official
orders.

On June nth two steamers and two gunboats, with 300

208

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

or 400 men, appeared before Darien, and landing a strong
party of negroes burned the town, whose white inhabit¬
ants had all left it and were living at a place some dis¬
tance in the rear, known as “the ridge.’’ Capt. W. A.
Lane of Company D, Twentieth Georgia battalion of
cavalry (Maj. John M. Millen), not having force enough
in hand to resist the landing, turned all his attention to
the protection of the large number of families and valu¬
able property at the ridge until reinforcements could
arrive. The woods surrounding Darien were shelled
during the burning of the town. The enemy consisted
of negroes under white officers. They captured a pilot
boat with sixty bales of cotton on board, and carried off
some negroes, most of them free.

In addition to the land defenses and the floating battery
Georgia, the ironclad Atlanta was still on duty in the
Savannah river and adjacent passages. In January,
Commodore Tattnall had proposed to attack the block -
aders with the Atlanta, but on going down with the first
high spring tide found that the engineer officers were
unable to remove the obstructions for his passage.
When the next high tide arrived he was stationed by Gen¬
eral Mercer off Carston’s bluff on account of the attacks
on Fort McAllister. The government becoming impa¬
tient, the gallant old commodore was relieved, and Lieut.
William A. Webb was ordered to take command of the
Atlanta, with implied duty to do something with the least
possible delay. Accordingly on June 17th he got the
ironclad under headway before daylight and entered
Warsaw sound. There he found two monitors, the Wee-
hawken, Capt. John Rodgers, and the Nahant, Com¬
mander Downes, which had been sent for the express
purpose of meeting the Atlanta. The monitors were
two of the strongest of their class, fighting with a 15 -inch
and an 1 1 -inch gun behind ten inches of armor on the
turrets. Webb gallantly sought to meet his formidable
antagonists at close quarters, and it was reported that it

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

209

was his intention to run into the Weehawken and blow
her up with his bow torpedo. But he went aground
about 600 yards from the monitor, and after backing off
went aground again so hard and fast that it was impos¬
sible for the engines to move his doomed vessel. The
Weehawken came up within 300 yards and opened fire.
Her first shot, a 15 -inch spherical, struck the armor of
the Atlanta at such an angle that it passed through about
eleven inches of iron and four feet of wood. The effect
was terrific. Great quantities of wood and iron splinters
were scattered over the gun deck. Sixteen men were
wounded and 40 more were made insensible by the shock.
A second shot partly crushed the pilot-house, wounding
both pilots and one helmsman, and stunning the other.
The firing was continued with serious effect. Eight
shots were fired from the Atlanta, none of which struck
the Weehawken. The Nahant did not come into the
fight at all. Webb found it impossible to bring his guns
to bear effectively in his unfortunate position, and it was
evident that lying there a fixed mark, it would be a mat¬
ter of but a few minutes before his boat would be crushed
and his men killed. Accordingly the unfortunate com¬
mander hoisted the white flag, and sent Lieut. J. W.
Alexander to inform Captain Rodgers that he had sur¬
rendered. The Federals made prisoners of 165 men,
including the officers, and these, with the exception of the
wounded, were sent to Fort Lafayette, New York har¬
bor. The captured boat was repaired and used in the
United States navy. This sudden loss of the Atlanta,
from which important service was expected, was a dis¬
tressing blow to the South, but Webb and his men were
not to blame for the misfortune. Even if they had
escaped the sandbars, the armor of the Atlanta would
have been ineffectual against the guns of the two mon¬
itors.

In the spring of 1863 there occurred in north Georgia
one of the most celebrated cavalry exploits of the war,

Ga 27

210

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

the capture of Col. A. D. Streight by Gen. Nathan B.
Forrest. Bragg at this time occupied with the army of
Tennessee the Tullahoma line and Rosecrans was at Mur¬
freesboro, both armies being quiet for the time, though
their cavalry kept busy. On the night of April 26th,
Colonel Streight set out from Tuscumbia, Ala., with
1,500 men, mostly mounted, with orders to cut the rail¬
road in Georgia below Rome. He was promptly followed
by a cavalry command under General Forrest. A battle
was fought at Driver’s gap, Sand mountain, in which
Capt. W. H. Forrest, a brother of the general, was
severely wounded — it was feared mortally, but he recov¬
ered and was in the field again in 1864. Streight, driven
from this position, pushed on toward the Georgia line;
but on the next day he was overtaken at Black creek,
where after heavy skirmishing he crossed and burned the
bridge, thus placing a deep and rapid stream between
himself and pursuit. It was here that a young Alabama
girl, Emma Sanson, mounting behind Forrest, at immi¬
nent peril of her own life, guided him to a ford, by
which he crossed and pressed on in pursuit.

Near Gadsden there was a desperate fight between
Forrest’s men and Streight’s command, in which the
Federals were worsted, but they sent forward an advance
guard to secure the bridge near Rome, and pushed on in
the hope of placing the river between them and their
pursuers. At the Chattooga they were delayed by the
capture of the ferryboat, and after crossing it was found
that Forrest was ahead of them in the race for Rome and
the advance guard had failed to get possession of the
bridge. On the morning of May 3d, Forrest, with his
command reduced to about 500 men, overtook Streight
again and forced a pitched battle upon his antagonists,
who outnumbered him nearly three to one. Streight
tells of his men being so exhausted that they fell asleep
in line of battle, but although the pursuit had been as
exhausting to the Confederates, they pressed the fight

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

211

against the superior forces of the enemy. While the
battle was progressing, Forrest audaciously dispatched an
officer to Streight, demanding immediate and uncondi¬
tional surrender of his whole force. Streight parleyed
for awhile, but Forrest with an air of impatience,
declaring that he could wait no longer, sent couriers and
staff officers to a number of imaginary batteries and to
four pretended regiments of cavalry with orders to form
line and prepare for a charge. Though he had in fact
only two field pieces and part of a regiment, his staff and
couriers dashed off to obey his orders, as he had given them.
Forrest then announced that within ten minutes the signal
gun would be fired and the truce would end. There¬
upon Streight surrendered his entire force of 1,500 men.
The two commands had been engaged in five days and
nights of constant fighting and riding. The Federal s
were carried as prisoners of war to Richmond.

The great drought of 1862 reduced the production of
food so much as to create very considerable distress in
Georgia. “The great question in this revolution is now
a question of bread,” said the governor. It was also
found that the paper currency had declined in value until
a bill purporting to be a dollar was worth but twenty cents.
“It now takes,” the governor said, “the whole salaryof a
judge of the Supreme court for twelve months to purchase
fifteen barrels of flour. ” It was recommended that the
legislature make it a penal offense forany planter to plant
more than one-fourth acre of cotton per hand, and the
limit was actually fixed at three acres per hand.

The fund of two and a half millions appropriated for
the suffering families of soldiers had been distributed
during fhe winter and early spring for the relief of
nearly 85,000 people. Of this number, 45,7x8 were chil¬
dren, 22,637 kinswomen of poor living soldiers, 8,492
orphans, 4,000 widows of deceased and killed soldiers,
and 550 were soldiers disabled in service. This was one
result of two years of war.

CHAPTER X.

THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE.

HE ist of May, 1863, is signalized in American his¬

tory as the beginning of the battle of Chancellors-

8 ville, the most brilliant of all Lee’s victories.
With 60,000 men he attacked and defeated Hooker’s
army, 130,000 strong. Into this struggle the Georgians
of the army of Northern Virginia were led in seven
splendid infantry brigades, besides the cavalry and artil¬
lery commands, the organization of which at this time it
will be interesting to cite :

In the First corps, the division of Maj.-Gen. Lafayette
McLaws contained the brigade of Gen. W. T. Wofford —
Sixteenth regiment, Eighteenth, Twenty-fourth, Cobb’s
legion (infantry), Phillips’ legion (infantry); and the
brigade of Gen. Paul J. Semmes — Tenth regiment,
Lieut. -Col. W. C. Holt; Fiftieth, Lieut. -Col. F. Kearse;
Fifty-first, Col. W. M. Slaughter; Fifty- third, Col.
James P. Simms. Brig. -Gen. A. R. Wright commanded
a brigade of R. H. Anderson’s division — Third regiment,
Maj. J. F. Jones; Twenty-second, Lieut. -Col. J. Wasden;
Forty-eighth, Lieut. -Col. R. W. Carswell; Second bat¬
talion, Maj. G. W. Ross.

In Jackson’s corps were four brigades: One in A. P.
Hill’s division, commanded by Brig. -Gen. E. L. Thomas
— Fourteenth regiment, Col. R. W. Folsom ; Thirty-fifth,
Capt. John Duke; Forty-fifth, Lieut. -Col. W. L. Grice;
Forty-ninth, Maj. S. T. Player; one in D. H. Hill’s
division, commanded by Brig. -Gen. A. H. Colquitt — Sixth
regiment, Col. John T. Lofton; Nineteenth, Col. A. J.
Hutchins; Twenty- third, Col. Emory F. Best; Twenty-
seventh, Col. C. T. Zachry; Twenty-eighth, Col. Tully

212

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

213

Graybill; another in D. H. Hill’s division, commanded
by Brig. -Gen. George Doles — Fourth regiment, Col.
Philip Cook; Twelfth, Col. Edward Willis; Twenty-first,
Col. J. T. Mercer; Forty-fourth, Col. J. B. Estes; and
last, the Lawton brigade, in Early’s division, now
commanded by John B. Gordon, promoted brigadier-gen¬
eral from the colonelcy of the Fifth Alabama infantry —
Thirteenth regiment, Col. J. H. Baker; Twenty-sixth,
Lieut. -Col. J. S. Blain; Thirty-first, Col. C. A. Evans;
Thirty-eighth, Col. J. D. Matthews; Sixtieth, Col. W. B.
Jones; Sixty-first, Col. J. H. Lamar.

The artillery commands from Georgia at Chancellors-
ville were : Sumter battalion, Lieut. -Col. A. S. Cutts, (A)
Ross’ battery, (B) Patterson’s battery, (C) Wingfield’s
battery; Fraser’s battery (Pulaski artillery) and Carlton’s
battery (Troup artillery), of Col. H. C. Cabell’s battal¬
ion; and Milledge’s battery of Col. William Nelson’s
battalion. Wingfield’s and Milledge’s batteries were in
reserve and not actively engaged. The others were in
the thickest of the fight. Capt. John Lane’s battery (E),
of the Sumter battalion, was at this time on detached
service in North Carolina.

As this history chiefly concerns the part taken by Georg¬
ians, we will not detail here the general circumstances
of this famous battle — the crossing of the Rappahannock
river near Chancellorsville by the United States army
under Hooker, the brilliant flank movement of Jackson’s
corps, the rout of Howard’s corps, the fatal wounding of
Jackson after dark by his own men, the successful attack
on Sunday un4er J. E. B. Stuart, the tenacious defense of
Fredericksburg and the total defeat of Hooker.

Wright’s Georgians were among the first to meet the
enemy at Chancellorsville after he had crossed the river.
Leaving Early to defend Fredericksburg, also menaced
by the enemy, McLaws marched with Wofford, Semmes
and Kershaw to reinforce Anderson, followed by Jackson.
The part taken by Georgians on May ist is epitomized in

214

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

the report of Gen. R. E. Lee as follows: “A strong
attack upon General McLaws was repulsed with spirit by
Semmes’ brigade, and General Wright, by direction of
General Anderson diverging to the left of the plank
road, marched by way of the unfinished railroad from
Fredericksburg to Gordonsville and turned the enemy’s
right. His whole line thereupon rapidly retreated, vig¬
orously pursued by our troops until they arrived within
about one mile of Chancellorsville. ’ ’ In order to reach
the position from which they made their gallant fight of
Friday, May ist, Wright’s Georgians had marched 27
miles in less than twenty-one hours, part of the time in
darkness almost impenetrable, and mainly in a heavy
rain and through deep mud. They fought their way
along the railroad to the Catherine furnace, where Lieu¬
tenant-Colonel Carswell, commanding the Forty-eighth
Georgia, and Lieutenant-Colonel Wasden, commanding
Twenty-second Georgia, moved forward through the
dense wilderness, and after a severe fight pushed back
the enemy for nearly a mile. Early the next morning,
Saturday, May 2d, the brigade, having retired to the
plank road, was again ordered to the furnace to support
General Posey, and necessarily left the Third Georgia to
bear the brunt of a spirited attack by the enemy. Noth¬
ing daunted, the Third not only held its ground against
two brigades, but actually gained ground. Early Sun¬
day morning, as the brigade was pushing forward in the
Federal intrenchments, led by the Third regiment,
Major Jones, commanding the latter, received a wound
which caused the loss of his right arm, and Capt. C. H.
Andrews took command. Going forward with great
impetuosity, the brigade was the first to reach Chancel¬
lor’s, capturing first a battery and 300 prisoners and later
an entire Connecticut regiment. On Monday the bri¬
gade, having marched rapidly to the right, supported
General Early near Fredericksburg, made an intrepid
charge across a wheat field under a hot fire of grape,

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

215

drove a battery from position, and pursued the discom¬
fited enemy. For eight days this brigade was marching
and fighting. Its loss was 273; among the killed, Capt.
F. M. Heath, Twenty-second, and Capts. W. N. Ken¬
drick and William A. Spier, Forty-eighth.

Semmes’ brigade, as has been noted, fought on the
line confronting the forward movement of Hooker from
Chancellorsville. It was the chief participant in the
defeat of Sykes’ division of United States regulars on
May 1st, the Fifty-first Georgia bearing the brunt of the
fight. Col. W. M. Slaughter, “the gallant leader of the
Fifty-first,” received his death-wound early in the action,
and a little later Lieut. -Col. Edward Ball was wounded
in the head. As the Federal lines gave way on Sunday
morning, McLaws and Anderson pressed forward to a
union with Jackson’s corps, and Lieutenant-Colonel Holt,
who with his entire regiment, the veteran and gallant
Tenth Georgia, was on skirmish duty, sent forward Lieu¬
tenant Bailey, Company A of his regiment, with a flag
of truce and demanded the surrender of a party of the
enemy still in their trenches. Three hundred and forty
men and officers, considerably outnumbering the Tenth,
were thus taken and sent to the rear. The brigade now
received orders to move down the turnpike in the direc¬
tion of Fredericksburg to meet the enemy under Sedg¬
wick. Pushing forward they came under severe fire, and
the two left regiments, the Fifty-third and Fiftieth, were
hard pressed but held their ground without flinching.
General Semmes said: “This battle was one of the most
severely contested of the war. Every regiment of the
brigade came up to its full measure of duty. The brunt
of the battle fell upon this brigade. Beyond my left
there was only desultory firing, and beyond my right
much firing did not extend far beyond and to the right of
the road, whilst the roar of musketry raged furiously
along my front.” The Tenth and Twenty-first made a
brilliant charge in support of Wilcox, driving the enemy

216

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

until it was necessary to recall them, and the Fifty-third
and Fiftieth after fighting with stubbornness finally
drove him from the field, capturing the colors of the Sec¬
ond Rhode Island regiment. The Fiftieth was no less
distinguished by faithful fighting than its comrades.
The brigade during the three days’ battles captured 595
prisoners and nearly 1,500 small-arms, and inflicted ter¬
rible casualties upon the enemy. Its own loss was very
heavy, 577 killed and wounded.

Wofford’s brigade was in the fight, especially on the
evening of Stonewall Jackson’s assault, winning great
distinction, but at a loss of 553 killed and wounded. Of
Sunday’s battle, General McLaws said:

General Wofford threw a portion of his men across
the valley between him and the Chancellorsville heights
and thus prevented the escape of a considerable body of
the enemy which had been opposed to his brigade and to
his left and front during the morning. I directed a flag
of truce to be sent them and they surrendered. I think
that General Wofford is entitled to the most credit for
their capture, although the Tenth Georgia, General
Semmes, and General Wright of Anderson’s division,
claimed their share equally.

On May 2d while McLaws and Anderson, with the
Georgia brigades of Wofford, Semmes and Wright, held
the attention of the enemy in front, Jackson made his
famous flank march, taking with him among other gal¬
lant commands the Georgia brigades of Thomas, Colquitt
and Doles. The Twenty-third Georgia, of Colquitt’s bri¬
gade, under Colonel Best, was left near the furnace to
protect the wagon train. As the rear of this train was
passing the furnace, an attack was made by the Federals.
Colonel Best, aided by artillery, held the enemy in check
until the train was safe, but a renewed attack resulted in
the capture of the greater part of the regiment. General
Wright, then coming to the rescue, stopped the progress
of the Federals in that quarter. In the advance that
evening by Jackson’s corps, the Georgians of Colquitt’s

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

217

and Doles’ brigades were at the front, while Thomas was
with that line under A. P. Hill which Jackson ordered in
as he was carried from the field. In the onslaught made
by Jackson’s corps that Saturday evening, May 2d,
Doles’ brigade advanced through a heavy fire of grape,
canister and shell, captured a battery, drove the enemy
from a hill and across an open field, and then captured a
second battery upon an eminence intrenched with rifle-
pits. This fight lasted from 5 -.30 to 9 o’clock and many
gallant men lost their lives. Among the killed were
Capt. R. M. Bisel, Fourth Georgia; Capts. G. G. Green
and H. M. Credille, and Lieut. A. M. Burnside, acting
adjutant Forty-fourth, and Capt. U. A. Allen, Twenty-
first. Col. Phil Cook was severely, and Capt. A. C. Wat¬
kins, Twenty-first, mortally, wounded. The brigade
captured many prisoners on Sunday and continued skir¬
mishing for three days afterward. Colonel Cook and
Lieut. -Col. David R. E. Winn, Fourth; Colonel Willis
and Maj. Isaac Hardeman, Twelfth; Lieutenant-Colonel
Lumpkin, Forty-fourth; and Colonel Mercer and Maj.
T. C. Glover, Twenty-first, tvere especially commended
for gallantry. The brigade went into action with 126
officers and 1,468 enlisted men, and lost 66 killed, 343
wounded and 28 missing.

Colquitt’s brigade was delayed in getting into the fight
by a demonstration of Federal cavalry in flank, but
reached the field in time to support Doles. Sunday
morning it was sent from flank to flank, finally finding
opportunity to take an important part in driving the
enemy from the breastworks at Chancellorsville. Capt.
William M. Arnold, in command of skirmishers, was
particularly distinguished. The brigade was about i,6oo
strong and lost 10 killed and 134 wounded outside of the
Twenty-third, which, as has been noted, was mainly cap¬
tured, involving a loss of 276 men. Thomas’ brigade
attacked the enemy at an early hour Sunday morning,
drove the first line from breastworks, routed a second

Ga 28

218

CONFEDERA TE MI LIT A R V HIS TOR Y.

line, and then with Pender’s North Carolinians defeated
yet a third Federal line after a sharp conflict. Thomas
had to withdraw his brigade some distance after this
because he found himself beyond support on either flank.
The loss of the brigade in killed and wounded was 177.
Among the killed were Capts. Robert P. Harman and
W. H. Shaw, and Lieut. -Col. James M. Fielder. Capt.
T. T. Mounger and Lieut. H. A. Solomon fell mortally
wounded within a few yards of the enemy’s breastworks.
General Heth reported that Generals Pender, Archer
and Thomas deserved, for their successful attacks, to be
specially mentioned.

When Lee moved with the main army to meet Hooker
at Chancellorsville, he left Early with his division,
Barksdale’s brigade, and the reserve artillery under Gen¬
eral Pendleton, to hold Sedgwick in check. On Sunday,
while Hooker was being pressed back to Chancellorsville,
Sedgwick crossed at Fredericksburg and made an attack
upon Marye’s hill. The first attack was repulsed, but a
second one carried the trenches, capturing a large part
of the Eighteenth Mississippi and part of the Twenty-
first, besides a company of the Washington artillery with
its guns. Early, hastening up with his division, checked
the progress of the enemy. The next morning General
Early attacked Sedgwick in the rear, while McLaws and
Anderson attacked in front. Early’s attack began before
that of McLaws and Anderson. As the brigades of
Hoke and Hays crossed Hazel run to move toward the
right, Gordon’s brigade advanced toward Lee’s and
Marye’s hills, followed by Smith and Barksdale. Col.
C. A. Evans, of the Thirty-first Georgia, was in the lead
in this attack of Gordon’s brigade, recapturing Marye’s
hill and holding it, and subsequently, aided by the rest
of the division, Gordon compelled the enemy to give up
the only advantage he had gained in the three days’ bat-

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

219

ties. The loss of the brigade in killed and wounded was
161, including among the wounded Capt. James Mitchell,
adjutant-general.

Brig. -Gen. William N. Pendleton, chief of artillery, in
his report speaks of the good work of several Georgia
batteries in the fighting on this part of the line. He
tells how Ross’ battery (A of the Sumter battalion) ren¬
dered service in annoying the enemy during a charge of
Hoke’s brigade, and how the guns of Captain Patterson,
(Company B of the same battalion) were fought until
ammunition failed. Again General Pendleton says:

Captain Fraser (Pulaski artillery), whom I saw under
fire, enlisted warm approbation by his cool self-possession
and ready power for emergency. Captain Carlton
(Troup artillery) is also entitled to honorable mention for
the persistent gallantry and efficiency with which he used
his guns. While thus rendering tribute to fidelity, I take
peculiar pleasure in directing attention to an instance,
recorded by Colonel Cabell, of heroism in Richard W.
Saye, a private of Captain Carlton’s battery. A shell,
with the fuse still burning, had fallen near and was
pointed out to Saye. He unhesitatingly seized it and
threw it over the parapet, probably saving lives thereby,
as the shell exploded a moment after.

CHAPTER XI.

BATTLE OF CHAMPION’S HILL— SIEGE OF VICKSBURG
—THE GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN.

HE campaigns which mainly influenced the events

of 1863 were those of Grant in Mississippi, which

1 ended in the surrender of Vicksburg, and of Lee
in Pennsylvania, which terminated at Gettysburg.

Barton’s and Cumming’s Georgia brigades had been sent
to the defense of Vicksburg in December, 1862, and early
in May, 1863, after Grant had landed south of the river
city, Brig. -Gen. W. H. T. Walker was sent from Georgia
to reinforce the command which Gen. J. E. Johnston was
hastily gathering at Jackson. Under Walker’s command
were the Twenty-fifth regiment, Col. C. C. Wilson;
Twenty-ninth, Col. William J. Young; Thirtieth, Col.
Thomas W. Mangham; First battalion sharpshooters,
Maj. Arthur Shaaff, and Martin’s Georgia battery. In
Gist’s brigade, sent from South Carolina at the same
time, were the Forty-sixth Georgia, Col. Peyton H. Col¬
quitt, and the Eighth battalion, Capt. Z. L. Watters.

Walker was at Jackson in time to march to the support
of Gregg’s Tennesseeans at Raymond, May 12th, and par¬
ticipate in the brief resistance to the Federal occupation
of Jackson which immediately followed. In the action
here Colonel Colquitt ably commanded Gist’s brigade.
General Johnston at once urged the promotion of General
Walker to division command, as a necessity in the organ¬
ization of an army, and he received a commission as
major-general in the month of May. With headquarters
at Canton, he had command of a division consisting of
the brigades of Gist, Ector, Gregg, McNair and his own

220

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY. 221

under Colonel Wilson, in all about 12,000 men present
for duty. McNair’s was subsequently detached. Thus
began the famous career of Walker’s division.

In the battle of Champion’s Hill, May 16th, the Georgia
brigades of Barton and Cumming fought with General
Stevenson, where the combat was hottest. Barton on
the right, Cumming in the center, and Stephen D. Lee
on the left bore alone for some time the Federal assaults,
and when they were forced to yield ground the battle
was lost. The Georgia regiments engaged were the
Fifty-sixth, Col. E. P. Watkins; Fifty-seventh, Col. Wil¬
liam Barkaloo; Thirty-sixth, Col. Jesse A. Glenn;
Thirty-fourth, Col. J. A. W. Johnson; Thirty-ninth, Col.
J. T. McConnell — all of Gen. Alfred Cumming’s brigade;
the Fortieth, Col. Abda Johnson; Forty-first, Col. Wil¬
liam E. Curtiss; Forty-second, Col. R. J. Henderson;
Forty-third, Col. Skidmore Harris, and the Fifty-second,
Col. C. D. Phillips — all of Gen. Seth Barton’s brigade.
These ten Georgia regiments, with Lee’s four Alabama
regiments, practically fought the battle against what Gen¬
eral Stevenson reported was an army of four divisions,
“numbering from their own statements, about 25,000
men. ’ ’ Cumming and Lee gallantly repulsed for some
time the enemy’s assaults, and being pushed back finally
rallied on the line of the Fifty-sixth and Fifty-seventh
Georgia. Soon afterward the blow fell upon Barton, and
despite his gallant endeavors he was forced back and cut
off from the division. But he kept up the fight and held
a position near Edward’s depot until night. Corput’s
Georgia battery (the Cherokee artillery) was splendidly
served. It was impossible to save the guns, but the gun¬
ners fought to the last. Barton’s brigade lost heavily,
58 killed, 106 wounded and 737 captured. General Bar¬
ton reported Col. Skidmore Harris among the captured
and wounded. In a report of a later date, General Stev¬
enson states that Colonel Harris was killed at the head
of his regiment. Others commended for gallantry were

222

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

Cols. Curtiss, Phillips, Henderson and Abda Johnson.
The latter, though sick, was present and cheering his
men, who were commanded by Lieut. -Col. Robert M.
Young. Majs. Raleigh S. Camp, William H. Hulsey and
M. S. Nall; Capts. Max VanD. Corput and J. W. John¬
ston, and Lieutenant Sharkey, of the artillery; and the
staff officers, Capt. A. C. Thom, Lieut. T. B. Lyons,
R. F. Patterson, W. Norcum and C. L. Thompson, were
specially mentioned.

Cumming’s brigade was about 2,500 strong, and lost in
killed 142, wounded 314, missing 539, total 995. Of the
missing, General Cumming estimated that about 200 were
killed or wounded. As they fell back fighting desper¬
ately against the flanking attacks of the enemy, Colonels
McConnell and Watkins were severely wounded. Colo¬
nel Watkins had left his sick room at Vicksburg to com¬
mand his regiment in this fight. Capt. Henry P. Os¬
borne, the youngest officer of his rank in the Thirty-ninth
Georgia, not yet twenty-one years old, was particularly
distinguished by the courage and skill displayed in hold¬
ing his company together and securing their orderly with¬
drawal, for which he was complimented by General
Cumming on the field. During the subsequent siege he
showed remarkable skill in the construction of the part
of the line under his supervision. This promising young
officer died soon after the fall of Vicksburg at his home
in Augusta, Ga. , and at his funeral a great outpouring of
citizens honored his memory.

During the siege of Vicksburg, soon afterward begun,
and continued until the surrender July 4, 1863, the rem¬
nants of the ten Georgia regiments shared the heroic serv¬
ices and uncomplaining endurance of Pemberton’s little
army. There was not much opportunity for those sallies
which enliven the history of famous sieges in romance.
The only ones mentioned by General Stevenson were
made by Georgians. Lieut. -Col. C. S. Guyton, of the
Fifty-seventh Georgia, went out one night with portions

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

223

of that regiment and of the Forty-third Tennessee. Guy¬
ton was successful in driving the enemy from three forti¬
fied points on the Hall’s Ferry road, inflicting considerable
loss. The other event worthy of record was the recon-
noissance made on the Warrenton road under Colonel
Curtiss, Forty-first Georgia, resulting in the capture of
107 of the enemy’s pickets. General Stevenson compli¬
mented this officer with the following special mention :
“The reconnoissance was conducted in a manner which
reflects credit upon that able officer. ’ ’

Another of the heroes of the siege was Lieut. George
D. Wise, ordnance officer of Cumming’s brigade, who
before the opening of the land campaign had made dar¬
ing reconnoissances, was distinguished in the battle of
Champion’s Hill, and after the Federal lines had been
drawn about the fated city, carried dispatches between
Pemberton and Johnston, seeming to be able to go and
come at will, as if he bore a charmed life.

Walker and his Georgians took part in the ineffectual
defense of Jackson, Miss., against Sherman, after the fall
of Vicksburg. Here also Marcellus A. Stovall, former
commander of the Third battalion, was present, with the
rank of brigadier-general, commanding among other
regiments the Forty-seventh Georgia.

Turning attention from the western to the eastern
fields of conflict, it is observed that almost simultaneously
with the fall of Vicksburg occurred the deadly grapple
of the Northern and Southern armies at Gettysburg,
from which the army of Northern Virginia returned shat¬
tered and bleeding, after having struck the enemy so
heavy a blow that he could make no effective pursuit.

Ewell’s corps led the way in the forward movement of
the army of General Lee in the invasion of Pennsylvania,
first taking the fortified post of Winchester, Va., with
23 guns and 4,000 prisoners, a splendid achievement in
which Gordon’s Georgia brigade took an active part. In
Early’s report the fact is mentioned that “Gordon’s bri-

224 CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

gade, which first reached the fort and pulled down the
flag over it, preceded the rest of the division.” The
brigade lost about 75 men killed and wounded, among
the former Capts. C. A. Hawkins and J. B. Colding.
After this success the Confederate army crossed the Poto¬
mac and passing through Maryland entered Pennsylvania.

Gordon’s brigade, marching in advance, entered Get¬
tysburg on June 26th, and on the next day marched
toward York, which they occupied on the morning of the
28th. Thence they marched the same day to the Colum¬
bia bridge over the Susquehanna river, at Wrightsville,
where General Early hoped to cross, cut the Pennsylva¬
nia railroad, march upon Lancaster, lay that town under
contribution, and then attack Harrisburg, the capital of
the State. But when Gordon and his brigade reached
the Susquehanna, he found a militia body intrenched at
the tete-de-pont, who retreated when artillery was opened
upon them, and running across the bridge, were able to
fire it so effectively that Gordon was checked. The
bridge was entirely destroyed, and from it the town of
Wrightsville caught fire and several buildings were con¬
sumed. But the further progress of the flames was
arrested by the exertions of Gordon’s men. General
Evans relates that while he was fighting the flames to
save the town, he read in a paper the brief special dis¬
patch which announced the recent burning of Darien in
Georgia by the Federals. Referring to the threatened
destruction of the Pennsylvania city, General Early
wrote :

All the cars at Wrightsville were destroyed, but the
railroad buildings and two car manufactories, as well as
the hospital buildings, were not burned, because after
examination I was satisfied that the burning of them
would cause the destruction of the greater part of the
town, and notwithstanding the barbarous policy pursued
by the enemy in similar cases, I determined to forbear in
this case, hoping that it might not be without its effect
even upon our cruel enemy. This example has been lost

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

225

upon the Yankees, however, as, so far from appreciating
the forbearance shown, I am informed that it has actually-
been charged by some of their papers that Gordon’s com¬
mand fired the town of Wrightsville, whereas the exer¬
tions of his men saved the town from utter destruction.

The great battle of the Pennsylvania campaign at Get¬
tysburg began with the collision of Heth’s and Pender’s
divisions with Buford’s Federal cavalry, supported by
Wadsworth’s division, and rapidly reinforced by Rey¬
nolds’ corps. The only Georgia brigade in this conflict,
which beginning early culminated in the storming of
Seminary ridge, was that of Gen. Edward L. Thomas, and
this was retained by Lieut. -Gen. A. P. Hill to meet a
threatened advance of the enemy from the left.

After this first day’s fight had begun, Ewell, with the
Georgia brigades of Gordon and Doles among his other
brave fighters, arrived from the Susquehanna and closed
in upon the Federals, who had now been reinforced by
the corps of O. O. Howard. Pushing down from the
north as A. P. Hill was pounding the enemy back from
the west, about 3 p. m. , Doles and Gordon encountered
the Federals strongly posted, with infantry and artillery,
but drove them back with heavy loss. Doles’ flank being
threatened, Gordon made a gallant charge over the
fences, rocks and ravines, and carried this position, after
a desperate resistance by the enemy, who only gave way
when less than fifty paces separated the colors. Many
prisoners were taken, and Major-General Barlow, of
Howard’s corps, was desperately wounded. This onset
enabled Doles to advance against the flank of the Feder-
ais, who were still defending Seminary hill, compelling
them to give up this important position to A. P. Hill.
Doles kept on as rapidly as his tired men could go, hop¬
ing to cut the Federals off from the town, but was not
successful in this. He then formed in line of battle on
the main street, running east and west. Gordon’s brigade
occupied a part of the town. Except that Gordon was in
Ga 29

226

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

a night attack on the second day, he and Doles did not
take a conspicuous part in the subsequent struggle ; but
they were engaged in heavy skirmishing during July 2d
and 3d on the Confederate left wing.

Gordon’s brigade, after Lee’s withdrawal on the night
of the 4th, was rear guard of the corps. On the 5th it
held the enemy in check at Fairfield, the Thirty-first and
Twenty-sixth Georgia, under Colonel Evans, being mainly
engaged. In Gordon’s brigade the loss at Gettysburg,
incurred chiefly on the first day, was 71 killed, 270 wounded
and 39 missing, the Thirteenth regiment having the
heaviest loss, 20 killed and 83 wounded. The brigade
captured a large number of prisoners in the first day’s
battle. In the charge of that day, Colonel Evans was
wounded in the left side and temporarily disabled, but
he resumed command on the second and third days.

Doles’ brigade carried into action a total of 1,369 and
lost 24 killed, 124 wounded, and 31 missing. On the 1st
of July, Lieut. -Col. D. R. E. Winn was killed and Lieut. -
Col. S. P. Lumpkin received a wound that caused the loss
of a leg, while gallantly leading their regiments, the
Fourth and Forty-fourth. General Doles mentioned
with especial gratitude the services of Col. Edward Willis
and Maj. Isaac Hardeman, of the Twelfth; Col. J. T.
Mercer, Lieut. -Col. T. W. Hooper and Maj. T. C. Glover
of the Twenty-first; Maj. W. H. Willis, Fourth; Maj.
W. H. Peebles, Forty-fourth, and the company officers
in command of sharpshooters; Capt. S. G. Pryor,
Twelfth; Capt. J. B. Reese, Forty-fourth; Lieut. J. G.
Stephens, Fourth, and Lieut. J. S. Wilder, Twenty-first.
One flag was captured by the Twelfth.

When Longstreet’s corps took position on the field to
the south of A. P. Hill, on the second day of the battle,
four more Georgia brigades were brought into action.
In McLaws’ division were the brigade of Gen. P. J.
Semmes — Tenth regiment, Col. John B. Weems; Fifti¬
eth, Col. W. R. Manning; Fifty-first, Col. E. Ball; and

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

227

the brigade of Gen. W. T. Wofford — Sixteenth regiment,
Col. Goode Bryan; Eighteenth, Lieut. -Col. S. Z. Ruff;
Twenty- fourth, Col. Robert McMillan; Cobb’s legion,
Lieut. -Col. Luther J. Glenn; Phillips’ legion, Lieut.
E. S. Barclay. In Hood’s division were the brigade of
Gen. George T. Anderson — Seventh Georgia, Col. W. W.
White; Eighth, Col. John R. Towers; Ninth, Lieut.-Col.
John C. Mounger; Eleventh, Col. F. H. Little, and Fifty-
ninth, Col. Jack Brown; and the brigade of Gen. Henry
L. Benning — Second regiment, Lieut.-Col. William T.
Harris; Fifteenth, Col. D. M. DuBose; Seventeenth, Col.
W. C. Hodges, and Twentieth, Col. John A. Jones.

McLaws’ division got into position opposite the Fed¬
eral left about 4 p. m. Hood’s division was moved on
farther to the enemy’s left, which it partly enveloped.
That evening these two divisions, half Georgians, the
other half mainly South Carolinians, Mississippians, Ala¬
bamians and Texans, made a successful assault upon
Sickles’ corps, driving it back from the wheatfield
and almost gaining possession of Little Round Top. As
the gray line pushed forward it was exposed to artillery
fire from the heights and musketry fire from the troops
at their front before the base of the ridge. General Hood
was wounded and Gen. E. M. Law took command of
that division. But the gray swept on until, as General
Law has described it, “the blue line in front wavered,
broke, and seemed to dissolve in the woods and rocks on
the mountainside.’’ As the Confederates followed up
among the rocks of Devil’s Den, Benning’s and Ander¬
son’s brigades, until then in the second line, were brought
forward, and the four brigades pushed their way up the
hill, fighting from boulder to boulder, and sometimes
mounting the rocks to fire with better effect. Not an
hour had elapsed from the beginning of the attack before
the Georgians, Texans and Alabamians had taken Round
Top and a spur before Little Round Top, where they
intrenched with rocks that night.

Ga

228

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

McLaws’ division was severely engaged at the wheat-
field and peach orchard. Semmes followed Kershaw’s
South Carolinians, but soon was ordered to the front line,
and just as he was about to take that position he fell
mortally wounded. As the desperate fight progressed
with varying fortune, Wofford rode up at the head of his
splendid brigade and turned the flank of the enemy, who
was pushing back Kershaw and Semmes. Wofford’s
men attacked with great effect, said General Kershaw,
and drove the Federals back to Little Round Top. Con¬
cerning the fight of Wofford’s and Semmes’ brigades,
there is unfortunately little information in the official
reports. The losses are reported at 55 killed, 284 wounded
and 91 missing for Semmes’ brigade, and at 30 killed,
192 wounded and 112 missing for Wofford’s. The regi¬
ments which suffered most were the Tenth and Fifty-
third. The service of Benning’s brigade is well described
in detail in the report of the brigadier-general command¬
ing. The regiments moved first through a wood, not
seeing the enemy, but feeling his shells. Emerging they
confronted at 600 yards distance a steep and rough
mountain spur, while to the right about 500 yards was the
summit of the eminence on which artillery was posted, as
well as on the top of the spur. The Georgians pushed
right up among the rocks in spite of a deadly fire, took the
spur and three of the cannon on it, with 300 prisoners, and
then held this exposed position while shells were con¬
stantly bursting over them and every head that showed
itself was a target for a minie ball; repulsing all at¬
tempts to dislodge them until they were ordered to retire
next day, following the failure of Pickett’s and Petti¬
grew’s charge.

The loss was heavy among the best and bravest. Col.
John A. Jones, Twentieth, was killed late in the fight,
after the enemy had been driven from the lower emi¬
nence, and had opened fire from the upper hill with shell,
a fragment of which glanced from a rock and passed

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

229

through his brain. He had been conspicuous for cool¬
ness and gallantry. Colonel Harris, of the Second,
equally distinguished, was killed by a ball through the
heart as he and his regiment passed through a gorge
swept by the fire of infantry and artillery. Lieut. -Col.
J. D. Waddell succeeded to the command of the Twenti¬
eth, and Maj. W. S. Shepherd to that of the Second.
The captured guns were taken by the Twentieth and the
Seventeenth, aided by a part of the First Texas which
had joined the brigade; but as General Benning says,
“they could not have taken, certainly not held the
guns if the Second and Fifteenth had not by the hardest
kind of fighting at great loss protected their flanks.’’
Colonel Du Bose’s men were particularly distinguished in
the capture of prisoners. On the evening of the third
day, an order from General McLaws improperly con¬
veyed caused Colonel DuBose to be sent with his regi¬
ment to an exposed position, from which he was able to
extricate himself by gallant fighting but at great loss.
This regiment had the most killed, wounded and missing
— 70 on the 2d and 101 on the 3d, in all over half the
regiment. The loss of the brigade was given at about
400 on the 2d, and in all 509.

Anderson’s Georgians made three charges upon the
enemy, at the base of the hill, marked by desperate fight¬
ing, and in the second of these, General Anderson was
severely wounded, the command devolving upon Lieut. -
Col. William Luffman, Eleventh regiment. Lieutenant-
Colonel Mounger, of the Ninth, was killed by a piece of
shell soon after the advance commenced, and for about
an hour Maj. W. M. Jones was in command, when he
and Capt. J. M. D. King were both wounded, and carried
from the field, leaving the regiment in charge of Capt.
George Hillyer. Lieut. E. W. Bowen was among the
killed. Eleven officers were wounded; of the enlisted
men, 25 killed, and 119 wounded, with 32 missing, mak¬
ing a total loss of 189 out of 340. Col. F. H. Little of

230

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

the Eleventh was severely wounded, and after Luffman
took command of the brigade, Maj. H. D. McDaniel was
in charge of the Eleventh. Among the killed of this
regiment were Capts. M. T. Nunnally and John W.
Stokes, and Lieut. W. H. Baskin. The total loss was
204. On the 3d the Eleventh, under Capt. W. H. Mitch¬
ell, and the Fifty-ninth, under Capt. M. G. Bass, all com¬
manded by Major McDaniel, and supported by the Eighth,
Capt. D. Scott, and the brigade skirmishers under Capt.
S. D. Cockrell, repulsed the effort of the Federal cavalry
to turn the flank of Hood’s division. During this combat
the Ninth Georgia, under Capt. George Hillyer, moved
at double-quick and saved a battery from the cavalry of
the gallant Farnsworth, who fell in his desperate charge
upon the Confederate right. The Fifty-ninth lost 116
men. Col. Jack Brown was wounded, and Capt. M. G.
Bass was next in command.

While two of Longstreet’s divisions were fighting at
Little Round Top, Wright’s Georgia brigade of Ander¬
son’s division, A. P. Hill’s corps, had the honor of gain¬
ing the crest of the famous eminence where, on the fol¬
lowing day, the “high tide of the Confederacy” dashed
in vain. Anderson struck the Federal line just north of
McLaws, and Wright’s Georgians were on the north end
of Anderson’s line, the extreme left of the fighting line
on the right of the army. They marched for more than a
mile across an open plain, swept by the enemy’s artillery,
drove the infantry and artillery from the Emmitsburg
turnpike, capturing several guns; routed them from
behind a stone wall, their next place of defense, and
finally, by a well-directed fire, drove the gunners from
the crest of Cemetery hill, and by an irresistible charge
swept the infantry also from the crest and into a gorge
beyond. They had gained the key to the enemy’s whole
line, the master position that Pettigrew and Pickett tried
in vain to secure on the following day. But as the Geor¬
gians looked around they found that they were supported

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

231

neither on the right nor left, and that their thinned ranks
were hardly sufficient to hold this advanced position.
Under cover of the rocks and woods, strong detachments
of the enemy were at once sent from both sides to cut
them off. General Wright, in his report of this daring
advance of his brigade, says :

We were now in a critical condition. The enemy’s
converging line was rapidly closing upon our rear ; a few
moments more and we would be completely sunxmnded;
still no support could be seen coming to our assistance,
and with painful hearts we abandoned our captured guns,
faced about, and prepared to cut our way through the
closing lines in our rear. This was effected in tolerable
order, but with immense loss. The enemy rushed to his
abandoned guns as soon as we began to retire, and poured
a severe fire of grape and canister into our thinned ranks
as we retired slowly down the slope into the valley
below. ... I have not the slightest doubt that I
should have been able to maintain my position on the
heights, and secure the captured artillery, if there had
been a protecting force on my left, or if the brigade on
my right had not been forced to retire. We captured
over twenty pieces of artillery ... by the Third
Georgia, eleven pieces; Twenty-second, three; Forty-
eighth, four, and Second battalion, five or six.

The loss was very heavy, 335 killed and wounded, and
333 captured or missing. The Third regiment, com¬
manded by Col. Edward J. Walker, fought superbly and
lost 196 men. Col. Joseph Wasden, commanding the
Twenty-second, was killed at the turnpike. The service
contained no truer or more devoted officer. The adjut¬
ant was wounded and left on the field; of seven captains
that went in, only one came out; the color-bearer and
five color-guards were shot down. Capt. B. C. McCurry
was left in command. Col. William Gibson, of the
Forty-eighth, was wounded and left on the field. This
regiment fought exposed both to enfilade and direct fire,
and suffered more than any other, losing 212 in all, in¬
cluding 5 captains out of 6, and n lieutenants out of 17.

232

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

The colors were shot down seven times. Maj. George W.
Ross, Second battalion, a splendid disciplinarian and
accomplished gentleman and soldier, was shot down
while endeavoring to remove some of the captured can¬
non, and died in the hands of the enemy. The gallant
Capt. C. R. Redding was left on the field for dead. The
battalion fought along the whole line of the brigade, hav¬
ing been first deployed as skirmishers. Capt. Charles J.
Moffett succeeded to command.

In Col. H. C. Cabell’s artillery battalion, attached to
McLaws’ division, were two Georgia batteries, the Troup
artillery, Capt. H. H. Carlton, and the Pulaski artillery,
Capt. J. C. Fraser; also McCarthy’s Virginia battery and
Manly’s North Carolina battery. This battalion, which
opened the fight of McLaws’ division, July 2d, was
placed in position near the crest of a hill on the edge of
a wood, the right resting near the road leading from Get¬
tysburg to Emmitsburg. Exposed themselves to a flank¬
ing fire from the enemy’s mountain batteries, their posi¬
tion gave them a similar advantage in firing upon a large
part of the Federal line. Colonel Cabell says:

The battalion being the first to open fire received for a
short time a concentrated fire from the enemy’s batteries
— the loss of my battalion was very heavy during this
cannonading. Captain Fraser (Pulaski artillery), who
had always in previous engagements, as in this, set an
example of the highest courage, coolness and gallantry,
fell dangerously wounded by the bursting of a shell.
The same shell killed two sergeants and one man. Lieut.
R. H. Couper of the same battery was wounded during
the same engagement. The batteries in the peach
orchard were driven off. The next day, finding that
Capt. Fraser’s command was so much crippled by the
loss of men, I placed two of his guns (3-inch rifles), in
charge of Capt. B. C. Manly, and two Parrott guns of
Captain Fraser’s battery, under command of Lieut. W. J.
Furlong, were ordered to take position on the new and
advanced line of battle. Capt. H. H. Carlton’s battery
(Troup artillery) and a section of Captain McCarthy's

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

m

battery (two Napoleons) were ordered to the left of the
line in front of Pickett’s division.

The fire of the artillery opened about i p. m., and for
two hours the cannonading was almost continuous. Mc¬
Carthy’s and Carlton’s batteries were opposite the ceme¬
tery position of the enemy. The artillery ceased firing as
a part of Pickett’s division passed over the ground occu¬
pied by them in the celebrated charge. “During the can¬
nonading, ’’ says Colonel Cabell, “Lieut. Henry Jennings,
a brave and gallant officer, fell wounded, and later in the
day Captain Carlton, who has in action so gallantly com¬
manded his battery, fell, also wounded. The command
of the battery fell upon and was at once assumed by
First Lieut. C. W. Motes.” After the repulse of Pick¬
ett, Captain McCarthy and Lieutenant Motes of the
Troup artillery were ordered to move forward upon a
line with the sections commanded by Lieutenants Ander¬
son, Payne and Furlong, the latter commanding two guns
of the Pulaski artillery. These guns fired upon an ap¬
proaching line of the enemy’s infantry and drove it back.
They remained in their advanced position until night,
when they were withdrawn. The loss in the Troup artil¬
lery at Gettysburg was i killed and 6 wounded, while
that in the Pulaski artillery was 4 killed and 14 wounded.

The Sumter battalion of artillery was, during the battle
of Gettysburg, attached to Gen. R. H. Anderson’s divi¬
sion and was commanded by Maj. John Lane, who re¬
ported as follows:

Early on the morning of July 2d, in compliance with an
order, I sent Capt. G. M. Patterson’s battery, consisting at
that time of two Napoleon guns and four 12 -pounder
howitzers, with one 12-pounder howitzer of Capt. H. M.
Ross’ battery, to report to Brigadier-General Wilcox;
while with the battery of Capt. John T. Wingfield, con¬
sisting of two 20-pounder Parrotts and three 3-inch navj^
Parrotts, and the five remaining pieces of Captain Ross’
battery, embracing three io-pounder Parrotts, one 3-inch
navy Parrott and one Napoleon, I went into position on

Ga 80

234

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

a ridge east of the town of Gettysburg, fronting the
enemy’s guns on Cemetery hill, and distant therefrom
nearly 1,400 yards. With these guns immediately under
my command, I took part in the actions of the 2d and 3d
instant, being at all times during the engagement sub¬
jected to a very heavy fire, chiefly from Napoleon guns.
In these two days’ .actions Captain Ross’ battery sustained
a loss of 1 man killed and 7 wounded. Captain Wing¬
field’s battery had 9 men wounded, besides 8 or 10 others
struck but not disabled. Captain Wingfield had a very
severe bruise on the leg by a piece of shell, but did not
leave the field. From Captain Patterson’s report I learn
that he went into action only on the second day’s battle,
then with the brigade of General Wilcox, and though
engaged but a short while, sustained a loss of 2 men killed
and 5 wounded.

The reports show that the battalion lost in the whole
campaign 3 men killed, 21 wounded and 6 missing; also
lost 53 horses. Lane’s report speaks in high terms
of the gallantry displayed by officers and men, “as well
as of their patient endurance of the hardships of the march
and the gnawings of hunger caused by being without
rations for several days consecutively.” “We interred
our dead decently,” he continues, “and brought every
wounded man of the battalion across the Potomac, for
which Chief Surg. W. A. Green is entitled to praise. ’ ’

The operations of the cavalry during the Gettysburg
campaign may be considered as beginning with the bat¬
tle of Fleetwood (Brandy Station). In this hard-fought
battle Cobb’s Georgia legion, commanded by Col. P. M.
B. Young, was complimented by General Stuart, who
said in his report that at a critical moment, “the leading
regiment of Hampton’s brigade (Col. P. M. B. Young’s
Georgia regiment) came up and made a brilliant charge
upon the flank of the enemy, supported by Black’s South
Carolina cavalry, thus checking his advance up the hill. ”
In the great cavalry battle on the third day at Gettysburg
and in the preceding and succeeding movements, Cobb’s
and Phillips’ Georgia legions bore a gallant part. The

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

235

loss in Cobb’s legion at Gettysburg was 8 killed, 6 wounded
and 7 missing. Phillips’ legion suffered a loss of i killed
and 9 wounded. Hampton’s brigade, to which these two
commands belonged, had a greater loss than any other
brigade of Stuart's command, and Cobb’s legion lost
more in killed than any other regiment of the division
except the Seventh Virginia, which lost an equal number.
Hampton had a fight of his own with the enemy on July
2d at Hunterstown, where the Cobb legion, in front of
the Phillips legion and the Second South Carolina regi¬
ment as supporting forces on the flanks, met a charge of
the enemy with a countercharge, and not only repulsed
but drove them back.

CHAPTER XII.

THE COAST OF SOUTH CAROLINA, GEORGIA AND
FLORIDA, JULY TO DECEMBER, 1863.

HE operations on the south Atlantic coast during

the summer of 1863 were mainly concentrated at

■ Charleston, where General Colquitt and his bri¬
gade were on duty. Col. C. H. Olmstead’s regiment
(the First of Georgia), the Fifty-fourth and the Nine¬
teenth were on duty at Battery Wagner previous to the
assault of July nth. On that day there were in the gar¬
rison, consisting of South Carolina and Georgia troops,
four companies of the First volunteer regiment of
Georgia, Col. C. H. Olmstead; four companies of the
Twelfth Georgia battalion, Lieut. -Col. H. D. Capers,
and three companies of the Eighteenth Georgia battalion,
Maj. W. S. Basinger. The three detachments numbered
about 500 men, all under the command of Colonel Olm¬
stead. The assault of the enemy was quickly repulsed.
Col. R. F. Graham, of the Twenty-first South Carolina,
commanding, reported as follows: “My loss was 1 officer
killed and 5 privates, 1 officer wounded and 5 privates,
all from the Georgia troops. The whole garrison stood
to their posts firmly and without flinching.”

On Saturday, July 18th, came the second and most
determined assault of the enemy on Battery Wagner.
The garrison for the day consisted of commands from
North and South Carolina infantry and Georgia and South
Carolina artillery, numbering in all about 1,000 men, all
under the command of Brig. -Gen. W. B. Taliaferro.
The artillery consisted of companies under Capts. W. T.
Tatom and Warren Adams, Third South Carolina artil-

236

CONFEDERA TE MI LIT A R Y HIS TOR Y

237

lery; J. T. Buckner and W. J. Dixon, Sixty-third Geor¬
gia, heavy artillery, and Captain De Pass, commanding
light artillery — all under the general command of Lieut. -
Col. J. C. Simkins, chief of artillery. The enemy sub¬
jected the fort to a furious bombardment by their land
batteries, supported by their entire fleet, consisting of
the Ironsides, five monitors and a large number of other
warships. General Taliaferro said in his report: “With
this immense circle of fire by land and sea, he poured for
eleven hours without cessation or intermission a storm of
shot and shell upon Fort Wagner which is perhaps
unequaled in history. My estimate is that not less than
9,000 solid shot and shell of all sizes, from 15-inch down¬
ward, were hurled during this period at the work. About
2 o’clock p. m. the flag halyards were cut, and the Con¬
federate flag blew over into the fort. Instantly Major
Ramsay, Charleston battalion, Lieut. William E. Rea-
dick, Sixty-third Georgia artillery, Sergeant Shelton and
Private Flinn, Charleston battalion, sprang forward and
replaced it on the ramparts.’’ At 7:45 p. m. the assault
was made by more than 6,000 Federals, who suffered a
disastrous repulse, losing more than 1,500 men.

Among those especially commended for gallantry were
Captains Buckner and Dixon of the Sixty-third Georgia
and Corporal Conneway of the Twenty-second Georgia
battalion. General Taliaferro also commended the
bravery and zeal of the Georgians under Col. C. H. 01m-
stead, Lieut. -Col. H. D. Capers, Maj. G. M. Hanvey and
Maj. W. S. Basinger, which, together with several South
Carolina commands, had formed the garrison during the
first part of the week.

During a large part of August, Col. George P. Harrison,
of the Thirty-second Georgia, commanded Battery Wag¬
ner, having in garrison, besides his own regiment, the
Twelfth Georgia battalion. Other Georgia commands
engaged at Charleston were the Sixth, Nineteenth,
Twenty-third, Twenty-seventh, Twenty-eighth, Col-

238

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

quitt’s brigade; the Thirty-second and Fifty-fourth regi¬
ments, and Anderson’s brigade, which arrived in Sep¬
tember, including the Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Eleventh
and Fifty-ninth. Capt. J. R. Haines, commanding the
Twenty-eighth, was killed September 5th by a mortar
shell, and General Colquitt’s aide, Lieut. James Randle,
was mortally wounded August 29th. Others killed were
Capt. C. Werner, First volunteers, July nth, and Capt. A.
S. Roberts, August 24th. Two batteries of the Twenty-
second artillery were also there, and the Chatham and
Chestatee batteries, light artillery. The Fifth regiment
and Twenty-first and Twenty-fourth battalions of cavalry
were likewise on duty in the vicinity of Charleston dur¬
ing the active siege operations of 1863.

In the memorable defense of Fort Sumter, which was
maintained after the walls had been pounded into dust
piles, defying the utmost capabilities of the powerful
guns of the Federal fleet, Georgians had equal honors
with South Carolinians, and the blood of the two States
mingled on that historic spot. On the December day
when the magazine exploded and a destructive fire raged
in which many of the killed and wounded were burned,
the Sixth, Nineteenth, Twenty-fifth and Twenty-seventh
Georgia regiments furnished half the victims. On one
occasion, when Fort Sumter was undergoing a heavy
bombardment, the flagstaff was cut in two and the flag
came down. Sergt. William M. Hitt and Private Bob
Swain, both of the Twelfth Georgia battalion, witnessed
the fall of the colors. At imminent risk of their lives,
they restored the flag to its proper position, the sergeant
standing by the pole while Swain mounted upon his
shoulders in order to get a good start on his perilous
climb. This exploit was mentioned in general orders.
Another member of the Twelfth battalion, Private Hood
Hitt, risked the fire of the enemy to get a little piece of
the flag for a memento of his service in Fort Sumter.

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

239

At the close of 1863 the following was the assignment
of Georgia troops in the department of General Beaure¬
gard — South Carolina, Georgia and Florida :

In Gen. R. S. Ripley’s (First) district, South Carolina:
Eighteenth battalion, Maj. W. S. Basinger; Chestatee
artillery, Capt. Thomas H. Bomar. In Gen. B. H. Rob¬
ertson’s (Second) district, South Carolina, Fifth cavalry,
Maj. R. J. Davant. In Gen. W. S. Walker’s (Third)
district, South Carolina: Twelfth battalion, Maj. G. M.
Hanvey; Thirty-second regiment, Maj. W. T. Holland;
Fifty-fourth regiment, Maj. William H. Mann. In Gen.
J. H. Trapier’s (Fourth) district, South Carolina, Twenty-
first cavalry battalion, Maj. William P. White. In Gen.
Johnson Hagood’s sub-district, South Carolina: Twenty-
second battalion, Company G, Capt. Joseph A. Beals;
Twenty-seventh regiment, Col. Charles T. Zachry ;
Twenty-ninth regiment, Company A, Capt. W. W.
Bilopp; Chatham artillery, Capt. John F. Wheaton. In
Gen. A. H. Colquitt’s sub-district, South Carolina; Sixth
Georgia, Col. John T. Lofton; Twelfth battalion, Com¬
pany C, Capt. George W. Johnson, attached to siege
train; Nineteenth regiment, Col. James H. Neal;
Twenty-third regiment, Maj. M. R. Ballenger; Twenty-
eighth regiment, Col. Tully Graybill.

In Gen. W. M. Gardner’s (middle Florida) district;
Sixty-fourth regiment, Col. John W. Evans; Echols
(Georgia) artillery, Capt. J. FI. Tiller; Georgia siege
artillery, one company, Capt. C. G. Campbell, and in
Col. William J. Magill’s sub-district (middle Florida),
the First regulars, Maj. R. A. Wayne; Twenty-eighth
battalion, four companies, Maj. A. Bonaud, and three
companies, Capt. J. A. Cotten.

In district of Georgia, Brig. -Gen. H. W. Mercer
commanding — Second Confederate engineers, Company
D, Capt. J. W. McAlpine; First Georgia, Col. C. H.
Olmstead; Twenty-second battalion, Lieut. -Col. W. R.
Pritchard; Twenty-ninth regiment, Company G; Thir¬
teenth regiment, Company K; Fifty-fourth, four com¬
panies, Maj. George L. Buist; Fifty-seventh, Col. W.
Barkaloo; Sixty-third, Col. George A. Gordon, Jackson
guards, Capt. John Tanner; Fourth cavalry, Col. Dun¬
can L. Clinch; Twentieth cavalry battalion, Lieut. -Col.
J. M. Millen; Twenty-fourth cavalry battalion, Maj.

240

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

E. C. Anderson, Jr. ; Hardwick mounted rifles, Capt.
J. L. McAllister; Joe Thompson artillery, Capt. C. R.
Hanleiter; artillery company, Capt. N. B. Clinch; artil¬
lery company, Capt. John M. Guerard; Battery A, Capt.
J. A. Maxwell ; Battery B, Capt. Charles Daniell ; Terrell
artillery, Capt. John W. Brooks.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE CHICKAMAUGA CAMPAIGN— ROSECRANS’ ADVANCE
IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA — BRAGG EVACUATES
CHATTANOOGA— THE MANEUVERS IN THE MOUNT¬
AINS— THE TWO DAYS’ BATTLE ON CHICKAMAUGA
CREEK— ROSECRANS DEFEATED AND PENNED IN
AT CHATTANOOGA.

HE operations in Tennessee in the summer of 1863

resulted in the pushing back of Bragg’s army to

■ the line of the Tennessee river, or practically the
north line of Georgia. Before this was brought about
there was sharp fighting in the hills of Tennessee, nota¬
bly at Hoover’s gap, June 24th, where the Thirty-seventh
(then known as the First) Georgia regiment, Col. A. F.
Rudler, and Maj. T. D. Caswell’s battalion of sharp¬
shooters (Fourth Georgia battalion) participated. The
Georgians fought all day, forming with the Twentieth
Tennessee that part of General Bate’s brigade, less than
700 men, who “successfully fought and held at bay until
nightfall the battalions of the advancing foe. ” Among
those severely wounded were Capt. W. M. Carter and
Adjt. John R. Yourie of Caswell’s battalion, and Capt.
W. A. Quinn and Lieuts. William Hutchison and John W.
Murphey of the Thirty-seventh. The loss of the Thirty-
seventh was 48, and of the sharpshooters 43 killed and
wounded.

The battle of Chickamauga, as well as the incidents
immediately preceding it, will here be described more
fully than other engagements for the reason that it was
the greatest conflict of hostile forces on the soil of
Georgia, as well as one of the great battles of the war.

On August 20th, Gen. Braxton Bragg, with headquar-

GA 81

241

242

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

ters at Chattanooga, had to defend the line of the Ten¬
nessee river with an effective force of about 35,000 men,
infantry and artillery, embraced in the corps commanded
by Lieut. -Gen. Leonidas Polk, and the corps lately under
Hardee, but to which Lieut. -Gen. D. H. Hill had just
been assigned by President Davis. About 10,000 cavalry
were under command of Gens. Joseph Wheeler and N. B.
Forrest. The divisions of Polk’s corps were commanded
by Maj.-Gens. Benjamin F. Cheatham and Thomas C.
Hindman; the divisions of Hill’s corps by Maj.-Gens.
Patrick R. Cleburne and Alexander P. Stewart. Brig. -
Gen. John K. Jackson, of Georgia, commanded a brigade
of Cheatham’s division, including besides two Mississippi
regiments the second battalion of the First Confederate,
Maj. James Clark Gordon; Fifth regiment, Col. Charles
P. Daniel, and the Second battalion sharpshooters, Maj.
Richard H. Whitely. Another brigade in which there
were Georgia commands at that time was Bate’s of
Stewart’s division, which included the Thirty-seventh
regiment and Fourth sharpshooters. The division of
Maj. -Gen. John C. Breckinridge soon came up from
Mississippi, bringing with it one Georgia regiment, the
Forty-seventh, Capt. W. S. Phillips, in the brigade of
Gen. Marcellus A. Stovall. Another reinforcement from
the same region was the division of Maj. -Gen. William

H. T. Walker, in which the brigade of S. R. Gist was
half Georgian, and that of Col. C. C. Wilson was almost
entirely so. These two divisions added 12,000 men to
Bragg’s army. The division of Brig. -Gen. William
Preston, also being ordered up, brought 4,500 men,
including the Sixty-fifth Georgia, Col. R. H. Moore, in
the brigade of Col. John H. Kelly.

In Major-General Wheeler’s cavalry corps was a bri¬
gade commanded by Col. C. C. Crews, Second Georgia,
including his regiment under Lieut. -Col. F. M. Ison, the
Third under Col. R. Thompson, and the Fourth, Col.

I. W. Avery. Brigadier-General Forrest’s cavalry corps

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

243

contained the First Georgia, Col. J. J. Morrison, and
Sixth, Col. John R. Hart, in H. B. Davidson’s brigade
of Pegram’s division. Company G, Second cavalry,
Capt. Thomas M. Merritt, had the post of escort for
General Cheatham.

Scogin’s Georgia battery was attached to Melancthon
Smith’s battalion; Capt. Evan P. Howell’s battery to
Walker’s division; Dawson’s battery, Lieut. R. W.
Anderson, and Company E, Ninth battalion, Lieut.
W. S. Everett, to Stewart’s division. The batteries of
Capts. Tyler M. Peeples and Andrew M. Wolihin came
with Leyden’s battalion from east Tennessee, and in the
reserve artillery under Maj. P. H. Robertson, were the
Georgia batteries of Capts. M. W. Havis and T. L. Mas-
senburg.

The Federal army which appeared before Bragg at
Chattanooga was commanded by Maj. -Gen. W. S. Rose-
crans, who had gained fame by spirited fighting in West
Virginia, by his desperate defense of Corinth against
Van Dorn, and the stubbornness with which he had
refused to consider himself beaten at Murfreesboro. In
his army were the Fourteenth army corps, 20,000 strong,
commanded by Maj. -Gen. George H. Thomas; the
Twentieth corps, 11,000 strong, under Maj. -Gen. A. D.
McCook; the Twenty-first corps, 12,000 strong, Maj. -Gen.
Thomas L. Crittenden; the reserve corps, Maj. -Gen.
Gordon Granger, with 4,000 men, and the cavalry corps
commanded by Brig. -Gen. Robert B. Mitchell, 10,000
strong. In round numbers the force was estimated at
57,000 men, mainly from Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.

The Northern army was encouraged by the progress it
had made, had confidence in its general commanding,
and was well supplied with provisions, arms, ammunition
and clothing. The army of Tennessee, on the contrary,
was pervaded by discouragement on account of the
retreats it had made, and the bloody battles it had fought
without apparent results. Though in its own country, it

244

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

must depend on the railroad to Atlanta as a base, for
northern Georgia was nearly destitute, as has been
pointed out in another connection.

On the 1 6th of August, Rosecrans put his army in
motion to pass the Cumberland mountains and marched
southward. Having crossed the Tennessee river in the
vicinity of Stevenson and Bridgeport, Ala., the Federals
found themselves confronted by Sand mountain, the
northern extremity of which is known as Raccoon mount¬
ain. At the eastern base of this ridge runs Lookout
creek, separating from Sand mountain the parallel ridge
known as Lookout mountain, whose abrupt termination,
where Lookout creek empties into the Tennessee, looms
up in the sky just southwest of Chattanooga. Beyond
Lookout mountain a valley runs in the same general
direction, drained by Chattanooga creek, east of which is
another parallel ridge, more passable, called Missionary
ridge, the northward termination of which is east of
Chattanooga and is pierced by the tunnel of the Georgia
State railroad. East of Missionary ridge lies the most
important of these valleys, McLemore’s cove, which is
traversed by the west branch of Chickamauga creek, and
ends 25 miles below Chattanooga in a junction of the
mountain ridges. Pigeon mountain is the next running
a parallel course of 40 miles, and still further east are the
ranges of Chickamauga hills and Taylor’s ridge. These
must all be traversed by Rosecrans, six ridges separated
by valleys and creeks, before he could reach the rail¬
road communications of Bragg.

On September 8th, Rosecrans, having determined to
flank his opponent out of Chattanooga, ordered an
advance on the right and center of his 45 -mile line, up
to this time hid behind the Lookout range. General
Bragg perceiving these movements evacuated Chatta¬
nooga after he had telegraphed the president, “Rose¬
crans’ main force attained my left and rear. I followed
and endeavored to bring him to action and secure my

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

245

communications. This may compel the loss of Chatta¬
nooga, but is unavoidable.”

Crittenden marched his advance guard around the
northern verge of Lookout mountain, occupied the city
of Chattanooga, and on the next day placed his main
body at Rossville. Thomas’ corps was consuming four
days in crossing Lookout mountain at the passes 25 miles
southward, while Bragg was transferring his army to a
new line, northward and southward along the east side
of Pigeon mountain. D. H. Hill’s corps reached Lafay¬
ette, the left flank of the new Confederate position, and
Cleburne’s division was posted at the three passes of
Pigeon mountain near Lafayette, Catlett’s gap, Dug gap,
and Blue Bird gap, from which the Confederates could
see Thomas’ men marching into the valley on the west.

Rosecrans believed at first that Bragg was retreating to
Rome, and instructed Crittenden to leave one brigade at
Chattanooga and “follow the enemy’s retreat vigorously”
by way of Ringgold and Dalton. This brought Critten¬
den’s advance to Ringgold on the 10th, on the Confed¬
erate right flank. Near there Pegram’s cavalry brigade
encountered his mounted pickets and captured 59 prison¬
ers. On the nth, Crittenden, having found Bragg,
began moving west from Ringgold, and on the 12th he
was at Gordon’s mill on Chickamauga creek with his
corps. Wilder’s mounted brigade, covering the move¬
ment, had a severe skirmish at Leet’s tanyard with the
Sixth Georgia cavalry, Col. John R. Hart, and Rucker’s
legion, in which the Federals lost about 30 and the Con¬
federates 50 men. “It would be impossible,” said General
Pegram, “to pay too high a tribute to the daring gallantry
of my small force in this unequal conflict with the picked
brigade of General Crittenden’s corps.”

The orders of General Bragg indicate that he was plan¬
ning attacks in detail upon the enemy, scattered along a
40-mile line in the mountains, and the period when this
was not done and the enemy escaped destruction might

246

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

be called the first epoch of the campaign. In pursuance
of this plan, General Bragg first sought to strike the
portions of Thomas’ corps at the gaps of the Lookout
range and that movement failing, he directed his atten¬
tion to Crittenden, who was supposed to have one division
at Gordon’s mill and one at Ringgold; but this further
attempt to destroy the Federal forces in detail also
proved impracticable. In both cases the enemy slipped
away from attack.

Rosecrans now more clearly saw Bragg’s position and
McCook was ordered to hurry back from Alpine.
Thomas pushed all his corps over the mountain and
down into the cove and along Chickamauga creek north¬
ward, and Crittenden was ordered to post Wood at Gor¬
don’s mill, and with the rest of his corps take position on
Missionary ridge so as to command the roads to Chatta¬
nooga on either side of the ridge, while Wilder estab¬
lished connection with Thomas. On the 17th, after a
forced march of 67 miles by way of Valley Head, Ala.,
McCook had most of his corps in the cove and connecting
with Thomas near Pond spring. Thus on the evening of
the 1 7th the army of Rosecrans was in a degree concen¬
trated in a long line along the Chickamauga from
Stevens’ gap to Lee & Gordon’s mill.

In the meantime Bragg had made no attack, but hav¬
ing failed to cut off detachments of the enemy, he now
resolved to isolate the whole Federal army by moving
his army by the right flank sheltered by Pigeon mount¬
ain so as to intercept Rosecrans’ communications with
Chattanooga. In this design he was encouraged by the
near approach of veteran reinforcements, a portion of
Longstreet’s corps, army of Northern Virginia, the
removal of which by railroad from the Rappahannock to
the Tennessee was the most notable feat of military
transportation on the Southern side in the war.

On the 17th, when Rosecrans’ army stretched along the
west side of the Chickamauga, Bragg had so disposed his

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

247

forces that while Polk confronted Wood’s division at Lee
& Gordon’s mill, the extreme Federal left on Chicka-
mauga creek, his own right extended further northward,
threatening the roads to Chattanooga. Buckner was
next north of Polk; then Walker’s corps; and the extreme
north of the Confederate line was Bushrod Johnson’s
division near Ringgold. Rosecrans was made aware of
these dispositions to some extent by cavalry skirmishing
near Reed’s bridge, and observing that his left was
about to be enveloped, he ordered Crittenden to form on
the Rossville road to the north of Lee & Gordon’s mill.
Thomas was ordered from the center to the left, leaving
one division at Crawfish spring, and with the others mov¬
ing past Widow Glenn’s to Kelly’s, on the Rossville road,
at the eastern foot of Snodgrass hill. McCook was to
close up on Crawfish spring, forming the Federal right.
This concentration toward the left Rosecrans ordered to
be made secretly, beginning on the morning of the 18th.

Bragg also had his plans for that morning, and they
were all designed to bring on a battle. He had issued
orders the previous night for a movement to begin on
the right at 6 a. m., at Reed’s bridge, where Johnson
was to cross and sweep to the south while Walker crossed
at Alexander’s bridge, and Buckner at Thedford’s ford,
and all together were to flank, surround and push the
enemy up the valley while Polk attacked in front at
Lee & Gordon’s mill, and Hill covered the left flank.
This was all entirely practicable so far as the position of
Rosecrans’ infantry would affect it. It was not until
Thomas had marched all night of the 18th that he was in
the position assigned him by Rosecrans.

But again the fatality which had attended the orders of
General Bragg intervened, and the defeat of the Fed¬
eral army was prevented. Bragg said : ‘ ‘ The resistance
of the enemy’s cavalry and the difficulties arising from
the bad and narrow country roads caused unexpected
delays in the execution of these movements. Though

248

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

the commander of the right column (Polk) was several
times urged to press forward, his crossing was not effected
until late in the afternoon.” Johnson reported that he
left the vicinity of Ringgold at 5 a. m. with the brigades
of Johnson, McNair, Gregg and Robertson, leaving
Law’s and Benning’s brigades, which had just arrived,
to cook rations before following. After marching three
miles he was ordered back to take another road, which
brought him to Peeler’s mill about 11 a. m. Forrest’s
cavalry, assisted by infantry, then pushed back the Fed¬
eral cavalry of Minty across the bridge, but it was not
until 3 p. m, that the command began crossing the
Chickamauga at Reed’s bridge. At this moment Gen.
John B. Hood arrived and a little later took command of
the column. These four brigades, the only Confederate
commands to cross that day, marched down within two
miles of Lee & Gordon’s mill, confronting the north
flank of the Federal army, and slept there that night on
their arms, while Thomas was marching past to Kelly’s
farm. General Walker’s passage at Alexander’s bridge
was contested by Federal cavalry, who destroyed the
bridge before they were driven away, compelling Walker
to cross that night at Byram’s ford. He then reported to
General Hood.

On the morning of the 19th, a line of battle was formed
with Buckner’s left resting on the creek about a mile below
Lee & Gordon’s mill, next Hood with his own and John¬
son’s divisions, and Walker on the extreme north. In
reserve Cheatham’s division of Polk’s corps was formed
as it crossed.

Soon after getting into position at Kelly’s with two
divisions, about 9 a. m. of the 19th, Thomas was told that
there was but one brigade of Confederates across the
river, and he ordered Brannan to seek the lone brigade
and capture it. Croxton’s brigade of Brannan’s moving
toward Reed’s bridge, drove back Forrest’s cavalry upon
Ector’s and Wilson’s small brigades, and these charged

• .

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

249

and pushed back Croxton. Brannan reported that Crox-
ton encountered two divisions of the enemy, who made a
furious attack. Other brigades of Brannan’s advancing
toward Daffron’s ford, drove back the Confederates in
their front; Baird’s division came up to the support of
Brannan, and Walker was being hard pressed when Lid¬
dell’s division swooped down on two of Baird’s brigades,
Scribner’s and King’s, and sent them flying to the rear,
with their batteries left behind them. As Liddell pur¬
sued he was met by part of Brannan’s division, supported
by R. W. Johnson’s division of McCook’s corps, and was
forced back, losing heavily and parting with his freshly
captured guns. Then Cheatham came into the fight
with his division, and was advancing brilliantly until he
was checked by Federal reinforcements, and Wright’s
brigade lost its battery. A. P. Stewart’s division dashed
in and rescued the battery and pushed back the enemy.
All of Hood’s line was engaged, and in the evening
Cleburne’s division took part in the battle. In a brilliant
and successful assault after dusk Brig. -Gen. Preston
Smith was killed.

To sustain Thomas’ corps in this combat, Palmer’s
division, then VanCleve’s and finally Wood’s, were sent
up by Crittenden, and the divisions of Davis and Sheri¬
dan of McCook’s corps were also in the fight, being hur¬
ried up from Crawfish spring and beyond.

Rosecrans on that evening learned that Longstreet’s
corps had made a junction with Bragg, and contemplating
the events of the day, it is evident that he began to fear
his campaign had failed and it was no longer possible for
him to defeat the Confederate army. The arrival of
Longstreet had not yet equalized the strength of the two
contending armies, but this reinforcement, together with
the progress of the battle, encouraged the Confederates
to make those aggressive movements of the next day by
which they gained the victory. All the Federal com¬
mands except two brigades had been engaged in the fight

Ga 32

250

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

of the 19th, while Bragg yet had Breckinridge, Hindman
and Preston to put in, and Kershaw and Humphreys of
McLaws’ division were expected next day. It is esti¬
mated that the Federal strength was 45,855, and Confed¬
erate 33,897, actually engaged on the 19th.

That night Longstreet arrived, and he was assigned to
command the left wing of the army, consisting of the
commands of Buckner, Hood, Bushrod Johnson and
Hindman. Polk retained charge of the right wing,
including the commands of D. H. Hill, Walker and
Cheatham. Hill, who had been but slightly engaged on
the 19th, was ordered up to the right. Lee & Gordon’s
mill, two days before an important point, was now left to
the south of the battlefield.

Notwithstanding the changes in position, General
Bragg’s orders give the impression that he was still
determined to drive Rosecrans up the valley. Long-
street relates that he was informed Saturday night that
the action would be brought on at daylight Sunday upon
the right or north, and be taken up successively to the
left, the general movement to be a wheel upon Long-
street’s extreme left as a pivot.

Polk did not attack at early dawn as expected. A mis¬
carriage of orders caused a provoking delay. Finally
during the early morning Polk sent officers directly to
Breckinridge and Cleburne, directing them to attack
immediately. Bragg came up at 8 a. m. to D. PI. Hill’s
line, and presently the attack was begun by Breckin¬
ridge, soon followed by Cleburne.

The Federal army was well posted during the night of
the 19th. Thomas arranged the divisions of Baird,
Johnson, Palmer, Reynolds and Brannan on a ridge east
of the Rossville road, with his flanks drawn back. From
his right, the Federal right wing, the divisions of Neg-
ley, Davis and Sheridan, with Wood and VanCleve in
reserve, extended southward behind the Rossville road.
In general course the line followed the foot of the spur

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

251

of Missionary ridge. The Snodgrass house, Rosecrans’
headquarters, was near the southern end of the line.
The northern end should have been, according to
Thomas’ intention, the cross road to Reed’s mill, but
Baird could not stretch out that far, and advised Thomas
to that effect. This was the weak place in the Federal
front. Thomas asked for Negley’s division, to be put in
at his left, early in the morning, before the Confederate
attack. It appears that Negley was ordered up and
Wood was to take his place, but neither of these two
movements was made promptly or effectively, and before
such part of Negley’s division as did arrive was at hand,
part of Walker’s division had swept round the Federal left
to Thomas’ rear, and part of Breckinridge’s division had
similar success. But these were forced back by the Fed¬
eral reinforcements. At the same time, Sunday morning,
September 20th, the remainder of Polk’s wing attacked
Thomas’ line for two hours with great gallantry but
without success, largely on account of the breastworks of
felled trees which had been built during the previous
night to protect the Federal line. In this part of the
battle the gallant young brigadier, James Deshler was
killed while leading his Arkansas brigade.

The fighting of the Confederate left wing is described
by its commander, Lieut. -Gen. James Longstreet. He
states that as soon as he was ready to attack he notified
the general commanding, and asked permission to go in
without waiting, as contemplated in the original plan.
Before an answer could be received, orders were sent
from General Bragg to some of his division commanders
to attack. On learning this, Longstreet ordered forward
the left wing, holding Preston in reserve, and on account
of the practically unchanged position of the right wing,
he abandoned Bragg’s plan of movement, and arranged
that Stewart should halt at the Rossville road, as the
pivot of the wing, while it made a right wheel to the
northward. A. P. Stewart’s division did not, in fact,

252

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

assume this inactive function until it had at n o’clock
made a most gallant and bloody assault upon the Fed¬
eral center, which was found in considerable disorder on
account of the moving of brigades and divisions to sup¬
port Thomas. Brown’s brigade, supported by Clayton
and Bate, pushed to the west of the Rossville road, driving
the enemy into their log works, but were compelled to
retire from this advanced position. Gen. Bushrod John¬
son’s line was supported by Gregg’s brigade, and by
Hood’s division under Law, in a third line. The unusual
depth of this column of attack and the force and power
with which it was thrown upon the enemy’s line, com¬
pletely broke the Federal center, and cast the shattered
fragments to the right and left. As Johnson emerged
from the woods into the open fields between the two
roads to Chattanooga, near the Dyer house, he says “the
scene presented was unspeakably grand. The resolute
and impetuous charge, the rush of our heavy columns
sweeping out from the shadow and gloom of the forest
into the open fields flooded with sunlight, the glitter of
arms, the onward dash of artillery and mounted men,
the retreat of the foe, the shouts of our army, the dust,
the smoke, the noise of firearms, of whistling balls and
grapeshot and of bursting shell, made up a battle scene
of unsurpassed grandeur. ’’ Here General Hood gave his
last order: “Go ahead, and keep ahead of every¬
thing.”

Hood’s column broke the enemy’s line near the
Brotherton house and made it wheel to the right [says
Longstreet’s report]. In making this movement Major-
General Hood fell severely, and it was feared mortally,
wounded by a minie ball breaking his thigh. He had
broken the enemy’s line, however, and his own troops
and those to his right and left continued to press the
enemy with such spirit and force that he could not resist
us. Brigadier-General Law succeeded to the command
of Hood’s division, and Brigadier-General Kershaw to
the command of the two brigades of McLaws’ division.
General Kershaw, having received no definite orders

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY. 253

himself, being under the command of General Hood,
was not advised of the wheel to the right, and gained
more ground to the front than was intended in the move¬
ment of his two brigades. Johnson’s division followed
the movement made by Hood and gained the Crawfish
spring road, having a full share in the conflict. Major-
General Hindman, in command of my left division, first
met the enemy near the Viniard house, and drove him
back upon his strong position near the Glenn house.
By a well-directed front and flank attack, he gained the
position after a severe struggle. The enemy’s dead at
this point mark well his line of battle. Hindman was
then ordered to move by his right flank and reinforce
Johnson near the Vidito house, who was pressing for¬
ward against great odds. . . . The heights extending
from the Vidito house across to the Snodgrass house gave
the enemy strong ground upon which to rally. Here he
gathered most of his broken forces [right wing] and rein¬
forced them. After a long and bloody struggle, Johnson
and Hindman gained the heights near the Crawfish
spring road. Kershaw made a most handsome attack
upon the heights at the Snodgrass house simultaneously
with Johnson and Hindman, but was not strong enough
for the work.

At this point it is of interest to quote General Rose-
crans’ report:

Thus Davis’ two brigades, one of VanCleve’s, and Sher¬
idan’s entire division were driven from the field, and the
remainder, consisting of the divisions of Baird, Johnson,
Palmer, Reynolds, Brannan and Wood, two of Negley’s
brigades, and one of VanCleve’s, were left to sustain the
conflict against the whole power of the rebel army, which,
desisting from pursuit on the right, concentrated their
whole efforts to destroy them. At the moment of the
repulse of Davis’ division I was standing in rear of his
right, waiting the completion of the closing of McCook’s
corps to the left. Seeing confusion among VanCleve’s
troops and the distance Davis’ men were falling back,
and the tide of battle surging toward us, the urgency for
Sheridan’s troops to intervene became imminent, and I
hastened in person to the extreme right, to direct Sher¬
idan’s movement on the flank of the advancing rebels.
It was too late. The crowd of returning troops rolled

254

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

back and the enemy advanced. Giving the troops direc¬
tions to rally behind the ridge west of the Dry Valley
road, I passed down it, accompanied by General Garfield,
Major McMichael, Major Bond and Captain Young of my
staff and a few of the escort, under a shower of grape,
canister and musketry, for 200 or 300 yards, and
attempted to rejoin General Thomas and the troops sent
to his support, by passing to the rear of the broken por¬
tion of our lines, but found the routed troops far toward
the left, and hearing the enemy’s advancing musketry
and cheers, I became doubtful whether the left had held
its ground, and started for Rossville. On consultation
and further reflection, however, I determined to send
General Garfield there, while I went to Chattanooga to
give orders for the security of the pontoon bridges.

By 2 o’clock Longstreet had broken Rosecrans’ right
wing into fragments, part of which hastened to Chatta¬
nooga with their general commanding, over the road
which was protected by Thomas’ position, and part
rallied upon Thomas and were posted as described above.
Longstreet continues :

It was evident that with this position gained I should
be complete master of the field. I therefore ordered
General Buckner to move Preston forward. Before this,
however, General Buckner had established a battery of
twelve guns, raking down the enemy’s line which
opposed our right wing, and at the same time having
fine play upon any force that might attempt to reinforce
the hill that he was about to attack. General Stewart,
of his corps, was also ordered to move against any such
force in flank. The combination was well-timed and
arranged. Preston dashed gallantly at the hill. Stewart
flanked a reinforcing column and captured a large por¬
tion of it. At the same time the fire of the battery
struck such terror into a heavy force close under it, that
we took there also a large number of prisoners. Pres¬
ton’s assault, though not a complete success at the time
of onset, taken in connection with the other operations,
crippled the enemy so badly that his ranks were badly-
broken, and by a flank movement and another advance
the heights were gained. These reinforcements were
the enemy’s last, or reserve corps, and a part also of the

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

255

line that had been opposing our right wing during the
morning.

As General Rosecrans described it, this was the small
reserve corps under Maj.-Gen. Gordon Granger, who
without orders had hurried to the gap near Snodgrass
hill where Longstreet’s men were pouring around Bran-
nan’s right, and taking possession of the road in the rear
of Thomas. “General Steedman, taking a regimental
color, led the column. Swift was the charge and terrible
the conflict, but the enemy was broken. A thousand of
our brave men, killed and wounded, paid for its posses¬
sion, but we held the gap.’’ Thomas reported:

This opportune arrival of fresh troops revived the flag¬
ging spirits of our men on the right, and inspired them
with new ardor for the contest. Every assault of the
enemy from that time until nightfall was repulsed in the
most gallant style by the whole line. By this time the
ammunition in the boxes of the men was reduced on an
average to two or three rounds per man, and my ammu¬
nition trains having been unfortunately ordered to the
rear by some unauthorized person, we should have been
entirely without ammunition in a very short time had
not a small supply come up with General Steedman ’s
command. This being distributed among the troops
gave them about ten rounds per man.

About 4 o’clock the Confederate right wing was
ordered forward again, and the part near the center
swept victoriously over the Federal works and met Long-
street’s wing advancing with equal success. Gen. Wil¬
liam Preston’s division gained the heights, driving the
enemy back to a second ridge, and firing the last shots of
the battle by moonlight. In the shade of evening a tre¬
mendous shout went up along the Confederate lines tell¬
ing the story of victory and thrilling the entire Confed¬
erate army. No one who heard that inspiring shout that
arose as the Confederates swept forward and occupied
the whole field has ever doubted the completeness of the
victory.

During the night Thomas, who had bravely held his

256

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

main position, withdrew to Rossville and awaited attack
in a strong position on Missionary ridge. Great quanti¬
ties of arms and ammunition were abandoned on the
field. Monday morning was devoted by the Confederate
army to burying its dead, caring for its wounded, and
gathering up the spoils of victory.

General Bragg has been criticised for not following up
his victory instantly and fighting his men on the 21st.
Bragg’s defenders say that it should be considered whether
that were within the limits of human endurance. Part of
his soldiers had just been brought from Virginia ; the others
were wearied by maneuvers in the mountains. They
had fought a great battle and had driven back the enemy
only by the most desperate exertions and with heavy
losses. On the other hand, leading officers of the army
of Tennessee urged that nothing was needed but to
advance on the 21st and reap the full fruits of victory.
General Forrest, who was early in the saddle, reported
the rout complete — disorganized masses of men hurrying
to the rear, batteries inextricably mixed with trains of
wagons, disorder and confusion everywhere. Observing
this condition of the army of Rosecrans, this ready-fight¬
ing cavalry general sent word to Bragg that “every hour
is worth a thousand men.” Yet Bragg did not think
it proper to pursue.

Rosecrans spent the day and night of the 21st in hurry¬
ing his trains out of Chattanooga. Then, finding that
he was not pressed, he remained in and near the city
with his army. Chickamauga was more a Confederate
victory than Gettysburg was a Federal victory, and the
weight of proof bears out the view that the full fruits
could have been reaped by immediate pursuit on the 21st.

Both armies had suffered terribly. The Federal report
of losses was 1,644 killed, 9,262 wounded, 4,945 missing,
which with a cavalry loss of 500 made a grand total of
16,351. The Federal ordnance officer, Capt. Horace
Porter, reported a loss of 36 pieces of artillery, 8,000

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

257

rifles and over 700 smaller arms, nearly 6,000 sets of
infantry accouterments and 150,000 rounds of infantry
ammunition. This report was evidently hurried, as the
more detailed list prepared by Ordnance Officer O. T.
Gibbes shows that 51 pieces of Northern artillery fell into
the hands of the Confederate army, and 23,000 small-
arms.

The Confederate loss has been stated in detail at 2,389
killed, 13,412 wounded, 2,003 captured or missing, total
17,804. General Bragg’s field return a week later
showed an effective strength in round numbers of 11,000
in each of Polk’s and Hill’s corps, and 17,000 in Long-
street’s, a total of 38,989 infantry and 2,983 artillery.
Brig. -Gens. Preston Smith, B. H. Helm and James
Deshler were killed; Major-General Hood and Brigadier-
Generals Gregg, McNair and Adams wounded.

The general outlines of the battle having been traced
it remains to notice more particularly the part of Georgi¬
ans in it, leaving to others the proud duty of detailing
the heroic deeds of the sons of their respective States.

John Ks Jackson’s brigade had its first fighting about
noon on the 19th, driving back the Federal line which
was pursuing Walker and taking three pieces of artillery.
Supported by the remainder of Cheatham’s division and
the artillery, including Scogin’s Georgia battery, Jack-
son held his ground, and at 6 p. m. was one of the two
brigades in that attack in which General Smith was
killed. On Sunday his was the only brigade of Cheat¬
ham’s in action before evening, being ordered to a posi¬
tion on Cleburne’s right. The brigade made a gallant
charge and drove the enemy from his breastworks. The
Georgia battalion of sharpshooters lost 30 out of 108
engaged, Scogin’s battery 13 out of 89, the First Georgia
83 out of 194, and the Fifth regiment 194 out of 353.
The Forty-seventh Georgia, Captain Cone commanding,
after W. S. Phillips was wounded, shared the service of
Breckinridge’s division Saturday morning and evening,

Ga 33

258

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

and in the final taking of the Federal breastworks. The
regiment went into battle 193 strong and lost 75.

But the main strength of Georgia in the right wing
was in Gist’s and Wilson’s brigades of Walker’s division.
This division, which also included Ector’s brigade, was
commanded by Gist, and the latter’s brigade by Col.
Peyton H. Colquitt. Joined to Liddell’s division —
Govan’s Arkansas brigade and Walthall’s Mississippians
— the “reserve corps’’ was formed, which was commanded
by Maj.-Gen. W. H. T. Walker, one of Georgia’s most
valorous sons. As before noted, Walker and his corps
were on the Federal side of Chickamauga creek Friday
night. Early next morning the battle was opened by
the attack on Forrest and Wilson’s Georgians and Ector’s
brigade, who were supporting him. Wilson’s brigade
was immediately under a destructive fire, to which it
replied with such vigor as to break the enemy’s first line.
Pressing forward after a bloody struggle, the second line
was forced, and finally the Georgians stood facing the
breastworks under a galling fire. Then being flanked by
Federal reinforcements, the brigade was forced back, but
the Twenty-fifth and Twenty-ninth regiments soon after¬
ward joined in the advance of Ector’s brigade. About
noon on Sunday the brigade was ordered forward again,
but only to suffer heavy loss. On the evening of Sunday
it bivouacked on the Federal position. The brigade car¬
ried into the fight 1,200 men and lost 99 killed, 426
wounded and 80 missing, or over half its number.
Lieut. -Col. A. J. Williams, Twenty-fifth regiment, a
brave and gallant officer, received wounds from which he
died. Capts. A.W. and A. H. Smith, Twenty-fifth; Cap¬
tain Spencer, Twenty-ninth, and Lieuts. Alfred Bryan
and N. B. Sadler, First battalion sharpshooters; and
A. H. Harrell, Twenty-ninth, though wounded, fought the
battle to the end. Lieuts. Robert Wayne and R. E.
Lester, of Colonel Wilson’s staff, were conspicuous in
the combat, riding fearlessly wherever called by duty,

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

259

and both were seriously wounded, Lester also having two
horses killed under him. Adjt. G. R. MacRae, Twenty-
ninth, gained honorable mention by the brave and ener¬
getic way in which he led the remnant of his regiment,
when left in command as senior officer.

Gist’s brigade was called for by D. H. Hill to support
Breckinridge when it came upon the field Sunday morn¬
ing after an all-night’s march from Ringgold. Under
command of Col. P. H. Colquitt, Forty-sixth Georgia, it
marched forward until confronted by the log breastworks
of the enemy, and met with a destructive fire that shat¬
tered its ranks. For nearly half an hour the brigade
stood its ground, until the lamented Colquitt had fallen
mortally wounded, and in quick succession Colonel Stev¬
ens and Lieut. -Col. Ellison Capers, of the Twenty-fourth
South Carolina, had been seriously wounded. When a
third of the command had been killed or wounded, it fell
back. At 4 o’clock, reinforced by seven companies of
the Forty-sixth Georgia, under Maj. A. M. Speer, the
brigade, under Lieut. -Col. Leroy Napier, of the Eighth
battalion* supported the advance of General Liddell.
“The gallant Forty-sixth Georgia, occupying the right of
the brigade, eager to avenge their beloved regiment,
with a loud cheer charged through the wood before them,
driving the enemy and capturing some forty prisoners.

Nothing is more creditable in the two days’ fight at
Chickamauga than the fight made by Walker’s little
corps of about 5,000 men. As General Walker said, the
unequal contest they waged against overwhelming odds
was “unparalleled in this revolution, and the troops
deserve immortal honor for the part borne in the action.
Only soldiers fighting for all that is dear to freemen could
attack, be driven, rally, and attack again such superior
forces. ’ ’

In Bate’s brigade of A. P. Stewart’s division, Maj.
T. D. Caswell’s sharpshooters began the fighting on the
1 8th at Thedford’s ford. The sharpshooters and the

260

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

Thirty-seventh regiment fought on the right of the bri¬
gade on the afternoon of the 19th, and under a heavy
artillery fire lost both Major Caswell and Col. A. F. Rud-
ler, and a fourth of their numbers hilled and wounded.
Capt. Benjamin M. Turner was also dangerously
wounded, leaving Lieut. Joel Towers in command of
the sharpshooters, while the command of the Thirty-
seventh devolved upon Lieut. -Col. Joseph T. Smith. On
Sunday morning General Deshler was killed on their
right while waiting orders to advance. After lying
under fire until about 1 o’clock, the Thirty-seventh
Georgia and Twentieth Tennessee charged forward
through the dense smoke and attempted to capture the
enemy’s battery in front, but were not supported and
failed, with severe loss. In the evening they went into
the Federal works. Maj. M. Kendrick was distinguished
in command of the left wing of the Thirty-seventh.
This regiment took into battle 425 men and lost 19 killed,
168 wounded and 7 missing. The sharpshooters had 92
engaged and lost 35, mainly wounded. The Sixty-fifth
Georgia, Col. R. H. Moore, was mainly engaged as a
support to Maj. A. Leyden’s artillery battalion, also a
Georgia command.

Of Longstreet’s corps, Anderson’s, Wofford’s and
Bryan’s Georgia brigades did not arrive in time to par¬
ticipate in the battle. The brigade of Gen. Henry L.
Benning, however, took a prominent part in the fight of
both days. On Saturday, fighting on the Rossville road
against Rosecrans’ right, they pushed back the enemy
and held their ground with dogged resolution, unsup¬
ported by artillery, but under fire both of artillery and
infantry. On Sunday, in the victorious advance of Long-
street, they were conspicuous for gallantry, capturing
and holding eight pieces of artillery. The Second
Georgia was commanded by Lieut. -Col. William S. Shep¬
herd, the Fifteenth by Col. Dudley M. DuBose, the
Seventeenth by Lieut. -Col. Charles W. Matthews, and

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CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

261

the Twentieth by Col. J. D. Waddell. On the first day
Lieut. -Col. E. M. Seago of the Twentieth was killed,
DuBose and Shepherd were seriously wounded, as also
was Capt. A. McC. Lewis, acting major of the Second;
and on Sunday, Colonel Matthews was mortally wounded
while on heroic duty. Colonel Benning’s staff were all
wounded or lost their horses, and in fact, hardly a man
or officer of the brigade escaped without a touch of his
person or clothes, while many were killed or seriously
wounded. The only field officers left were Colonel
Waddell, Twentieth; Major Shannon, Fifteenth, and
Major Charlton, Second.

The Georgia cavalry, with Crews and Davidson, For¬
rest and Wheeler, shared the important service of their
commands. “Among the badly wounded,” says Brig. -
Gen. John Pegram, “was the gallant Lieutenant-Colonel
Fain, of the Sixth Georgia cavalry. ” Capt. T. M. Mer¬
ritt and his command, Company G of the Second Georgia
cavalry, were Cheatham’s escort, and were compli¬
mented by that officer for the efficient service rendered.
The various Georgia artillery commands were prominent
in such operations as this battle in the woods permitted.
Capt. John Scogin’s battery, Griffin light artillery,
did good service. Dawson’s battery had i man killed
and 6 wounded. Capt. W. W. Havis’ battery lost i killed
and i wounded. In Capt. Evan P. Howell’s battery
3 men were killed and 4 wounded. Capt. T. L. Massen-
burg lost in his battery 1 officer and 3 men wounded.
Capt. T. M. Peeples, of Company D, Leyden’s Ninth
battalion, was engaged on Saturday, and he reported
First Lieut. Thomas H. Lovelace seriously wounded in
the thigh by a piece of shell, and Privates John Edmonson
and W. H. Suddarth slightly wounded. Company E, of
the Ninth artillery (Leyden’s) battalion, commanded by
Lieut. William L. Everett, was slightly engaged on
Saturday the 19th, losing one horse. On the next day it
was actively engaged. It fired upon the enemy’s train

262

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

of wagons, checking their movement through the gap,
dismounting one cannon, and compelling the Federals to
abandon 30 wagons and several pieces of artillery ; also
repulsing three successive charges. The loss of the bat¬
tery was 3 men slightly wounded and 5 horses disabled.
Forrest led the pursuit on Monday morning, capturing
many prisoners and arms; attacked Thomas’ line at Ross-
ville gap, and continued the demonstration for several
hours, aided by artillery. That night Thomas withdrew
to Chattanooga, and on the 23d Forrest gained the point
of Lookout mountain.

The operations following the battle are thus described
by General Bragg:

The whole cavalry force having been dispatched to
press the enemy and cut off detachments, orders were
given for the army to move to a point near the railroad
and convenient to water, still interposing between the
enemy and our large number of wounded, our trophies
and our wounded prisoners, whose removal from the field
occupied many days. Our supplies of all kinds were
greatly reduced, the railroad having been constantly
occupied in transporting troops, prisoners and our
wounded, and the bridges having been destroyed to a
point two miles south of Ringgold. These supplies were
replenished, and as soon as it was seen that we could be
subsisted, the army was moved forward to seize and hold
the only communication the enemy had with his supplies
in the rear. His most important road, and the shortest
by half to his depot at Bridgeport, lay along the south
bank of the Tennessee. The holding of this all-impor¬
tant route was confided to Lieutenant-General Long-
street’s command, and its possession forced the enemy to
a road double the length, over two ranges of mountains,
by wagon transportation. At the same time our cav¬
alry, in large force, was thrown across the river to oper¬
ate on this long and difficult route. These dispositions
faithfully sustained insured the enemy’s speedy evacua¬
tion of Chattanooga for want of food and forage. Pos¬
sessed of the shortest road to his depot, and the one by
which reinforcements must reach him, we held him at
our mercy and his destruction was only a question of time.

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

263

This statement by Bragg of the result to be anticipated
from the siege of Chattanooga appears reasonable, and it
was verified so far as the reduction of the army with Rose-
crans to the verge of starvation. But the position
assigned to or taken by Longstreet did not keep the
Bridgeport route closed. Maj.-Gen. U. S. Grant, who
had been given general control of Federal operations in
the West, replaced Rosecrans with Thomas, arrived at
Chattanooga over the mountains on the 20th of October,
and about a week later, two corps from the Federal
army in Virginia, Howard’s and Slocum’s, under Hooker,
took possession of Bridgeport and the river almost up to
Lookout mountain. Supplies immediately began pour¬
ing into Chattanooga. Generals Bragg and Longstreet
examined the Federal operations from the summit of
Lookout on the 28th, and Geary’s division being seen
approaching, the divisions of Jenkins and Law, four bri¬
gades, were sent against it to make a night attack. This
was a failure, and the Federals remained in control up
to within range of the guns on Lookout mountain.
About the last of October, Longstreet, Hardee and Breck¬
inridge were ordered to examine the situation on Look¬
out creek with a view to a general battle, but they
decided that the difficulty of crossing the mountain pre¬
vented all hope of success. “Our position was so faulty
that we could not accomplish that which was hoped for.
We were trying to starve the enemy out by investing him
on the only side from which he could not have gathered
supplies,’’ was Longstreet’s expression of the situation
after Hooker occupied Lookout valley.

CHAPTER XIV.

THE KNOXVILLE CAMPAIGN— BATTLE OF MISSIONARY
RIDGE— BATTLE OF RINGGOLD GAP— RETREAT TO
DALTON— GEN. J. E. JOHNSTON GIVEN COMMAND-
CLOSE OF 1863.

ON November 3, 1863, General Bragg summoned
Longstreet, Hardee and Breckinridge, then his
infantry corps commanders, in consultation.
Longstreet had an inkling that it was proposed to send
him against Burnside at Knoxville, Tenn. At a much
earlier date he had advocated a campaign north of
the Tennessee river, to compel the surrender of Rose-
crans, but a division of the army at this later period did
not appear to him as practicable. The advance against
Knoxville being decided on, Longstreet was given for the
expedition his two divisions, McLaws’ and Hood’s, with
Wheeler’s cavalry, to which Buckner’s division was added.
Ransom’s Southwest Virginia division, mainly cavalry
was ordered to co-operate. It was ten days later
before Longstreet was able to cross the Tennessee at
Loudon and begin active field operations, as transpor¬
tation was very limited and the weather inclement. On
the 1 7th the enemy was driven into Knoxville, and on
the morning of the 29th the famous but unsuccessful
assault was made upon Fort Loudon.

The four Georgia brigades were conspicuous in every
important encounter of this ill-fated campaign, and sus¬
tained the heaviest brigade losses. Gen. Goode Bryan’s
brigade — the Tenth Georgia, Col. John B. Weems; Fifti¬
eth, Col. Peter McGlashan ; Fifty-first, Col. Edward Ball ;
Fifty-third, Col. James P. Simms — was selected for duty
on the picket line of Hood’s division on the 27th, Lieu-

264

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

265

tenant-Colonel Holt, of the Tenth, having expressed the
opinion that he could take the works. The final orders for
the assault directed that a regiment from Wofford’s bri¬
gade (Phillips’ Georgia legion) and one from Humphreys’
Mississippians should lead the assaulting columns, one of
which should be composed of Wofford’s brigade and the
other of two regiments of Humphreys’ and three of Bry¬
an’s. The assault was gallantly made and persisted in
as long as there was any hope of success. Wofford’s
brigade did not fall back until Colonel Ruff and Colonel
Thomas had both been killed and the next in command
wounded, and they rallied within 400 yards of the fort.
“Adjt. T. W. Cumming, of the Sixteenth Georgia,” said
General Longstreet in his report, ‘‘with great gallantry
marched up to the fort with 10 or 12 of his men and made
his way through an embrasure to the interior, where the
party was finally captured. ” General McLaws reported
concerning this fight :

The conduct of General Bryan during the siege and
afterward, and especially at the assault, is worthy of all
praise. He led his brigade to the work, and after seeing
that all was done that could be done, was the very last to
retire. Col. E. Ball, of the Fifty-first Georgia, and Colo¬
nel Simms, of the Fifty-third, who was wounded in the
assault ; Lieut. -Col. W. C. Holt, Major McBride, Adjutant
Strickland and Lieut. J. T. Stovall, of the Tenth, were
distinguished for gallantry and good conduct during the
siege. Captain Ellis, adjutant-general of the brigade, who
was wounded during the assault, . . . I recommend for pro¬
motion; Major Hartsfield and Captain Vandegriff, Fifty-
third . . . and Captain Norris, Phillips’ legion, deserve
especial mention. Captain Dortch, of the Twenty-fourth
Georgia, drove in the enemy’s pickets with his regi¬
ment on the night of the 28th ; Lieutenant-Colonel Hutch¬
ins, commanded the sharpshooters on that occasion,
and afterward the brigade ; Major Hamilton, who com¬
manded Phillips’ legion and led the assault on the left of
the line against the northwest bastion of Fort Loudon,
and who was wounded in his efforts to get his men into
the work, is an officer of great gallantry, fine intelligence
and a good disciplinarian. . . . Colonel Ruff, of the

Ga 31

266

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

Eighteenth Georgia, who commanded Wofford’s brigade
and led it to the assault, was shot while cheering on his
men. He was a gallant and accomplished officer, whose
merit was concealed by his modest and unobtrusive man¬
ner, but who was fast becoming known as occasions forced
a display of his zeal and worth. I knew of no one whose
career promised to be more useful. Colonel Thomas, of
the Sixteenth Georgia, a brave and determined officer,
was also killed while leading his regiment and attempting
to scale the work. He was found sitting in the corner of
the ditch facing the enemy.

The report by Lieutenant-Colonel Hutchins indicates
that Wofford’s brigade advanced in column of regiments,
and in the following order: Phillips’ legion, Maj. Joseph
Hamilton; Eighteenth regiment, Capt. John A. Craw¬
ford; Sixteenth, Lieut. -Col. Henry P. Thomas; Cobb’s
legion, Maj. William D. Conyers. The brigade moved
forward with enthusiasm through fallen timber and tan¬
gled bushes, while the Third battalion of sharpshooters
kept the enemy under cover at the start; but when the
fort was reached, it was found that the ditch had been
underestimated in depth, that the parapet was eighteen
feet from the bottom of the ditch to the summit, the
berme was narrow and soon worn away in the effort to
obtain a foothold, and the surface of the earth was slip¬
pery with ice. Some men succeeded in getting on the
slope, but not in sufficient force to venture over the
parapet into the fort. The loss of the brigade was 246
wounded and missing.

Col. Edward Ball, commanding Bryan’s brigade, report¬
ed that the Tenth Georgia volunteers, commanded by
Lieut. -Col. W. C. Holt, drove the enemy from his rifle-
pits to the works on the night before the assault. The
three other regiments, Fifty-third, Fifty-first and Fifti¬
eth, took part in the assault, and suffered a loss of 212
men. In Hood’s division, under Jenkins, the only bri¬
gades participating in the assault were those of Anderson
and Benning, Anderson leading and taking the main part.

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

267

The experience of these Georgians was the same as has
been briefly related. Their loss was 187. More than
three-fourths of the loss of November 29th was borne by
the brigades of Wofford, Bryan and Anderson.

The Georgia cavalry in the department of East Ten¬
nessee during these movements acted a gallant part. On
November 6th near Rogersville, Tenn. , Col. H. L. Gilt-
ner, had a successful fight with the enemy, in which he
said that the Sixteenth Georgia, under Maj. E. Y. Clark,
being ordered to pursue and overhaul the flying enemy,
performed that work “in the most praiseworthy manner. ’’
Gen. William T. Martin, in his report of cavalry opera¬
tions in east Tennessee, says that in a successful fight at
Russellville “the First and Sixth Georgia and Third Ala¬
bama cavalry were conspicuous for gallantry,’’ and that
“Col. C. C. Crews deserves mention for his skill and
bravery.’’ On the 24th of December a spirited cavalry
battle occurred between Dandridge and New Market.
Speaking of the Georgia troops, General Martin says :

In the meantime four regiments of Crews’ brigade (in
all 600) moved in the rear of the enemy. Two of the
regiments in advance made a spirited charge on the
enemy and captured his battery of artillery. Support
being too far off, the brave men who made the charge
were driven from the guns, and Major Bate, commanding
the Sixth Georgia, was left dead in the midst of the bat¬
tery. Two pieces of artillery and the two remaining
regiments of the brigade coming up, and the whole com¬
mand being dismounted, the enemy was pushed from one
position to another until, finally routed, he abandoned one
gun and caisson, his dead and wounded, and under cover
of night escaped capture. I have never witnessed greater
gallantry than was displayed by Colonel Crews and the
officers and men of the First, Second, Third and Sixth
Georgia cavalry. The Fourth Georgia cavalry was on
detached service.

Longstreet’s army remained in east Tennessee during
the winter of 1863-64, enduring hardships comparable
to those of Valley Forge. In the spring he and his corps

268

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

were recalled to Virginia to join again the army of Lee.

Meanwhile events of great importance had occurred at
Chattanooga. On the 20th, General Bragg had notified
the President that Sherman had reinforced Grant, “and
a movement on our left is indicated. The same game
may have to be played over. Our fate may be
decided here, and the enemy is at least double our
strength.’’ It was soon apparent, however, that the for¬
mer Federal movement would not be repeated, as Sherman
moved, according to observations from the heights, into
Chattanooga. This first disposition preceded and partly
covered the march of Sherman’s main body in a circuit
northward behind the hills, prepared to bridge the river
and attack Bragg’s right at the northern extremity of
Missionary ridge. On the 23d of November an advance
was made in front in which Grant pushed his lines nearer
to the rampart of Missionary ridge. On the 24th Look¬
out was taken, exposing the Confederate left, while Sher¬
man suddenly appeared on the right, crossing the river
and making a resolute assault. Hooker crossed Lookout
and forced the gap at Rossville. From either flank there
came to the Confederate lines the news of overwhelming
numbers, and when the brave but weary veterans on
Missionary ridge, November 25th, saw yet other strong
columns drawn up in their view and moving upon their
front, they gave way before an assault they were unable
to resist. Yet it should not be concluded that the Fed¬
eral charge up the slope of Missionary ridge, or that
Hooker’s fight on Lookout mountain, or Sherman’s as¬
sault on the Confederate right, was unattended by losses.
As an example of Federal casualties, it may be noted that
one Indiana regiment in Thomas’ charge lost 202 killed
and wounded out of a total of 337, in forty-five minutes.
It was General Grant’s estimate: “In this battle the
Union army numbered in round figures about 60,000 men ;
we lost 752 killed, and 4,713 wounded, and 350 captured
and missing. ’’ The records show that General Grant had

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

269

in and around Chattanooga, 80,822 effectives present for
duty.

Gen. Alfred Cumming’s brigade, Stevenson’s division,
was distinguished for gallantry in the fight against Sher¬
man at the tunnel. After the Federal skirmishers ap¬
peared at the base of the ridge, the Thirty-ninth Georgia,
Col. J. T. McConnell, and Fifty-sixth, Lieut. -Col. J. T.
Slaughter, went down the hill and briskly engaged them.
About the same time Col. J. A. W. Johnson, of the Thirty-
fourth, and Lieutenant-Colonel Wallace, of the Thirty-
sixth, were seriously wounded. The Thirty-ninth made
a second advance to the foot of the hill and burned some
buildings which the Federals were occupying. The re¬
mainder of the service of Cumming’s brigade on the 25th
is well described by General Cleburne, the hero of the
fight on the right, about the railroad tunnel near the
northern extremity of Missionary ridge. He had on the
previous day gallantly held his position, and was now
assailed again by the divisions of Jeff. C. Davis, Sher¬
man’s corps from Vicksburg, and Howard’s corps from
Virginia, all under command of Sherman. Smith’s
Texas brigade, supported by part of Govan’s Arkansans
and Swett’s and Key’s batteries, were struggling des¬
perately to hold their position, even rolling down heavy
stones where artillery was ineffective. General Cle¬
burne says:

At this point of the fight Colonel McConnell, command¬
ing a Georgia regiment of Cumming’s brigade, came up
to the threatened point, and moved his regiment for¬
ward to where Warfield’s men were fighting. McCon¬
nell was shot through the head, and his regiment fell
back or was withdrawn. Brigadier-General Cumming
now reported to me with the remainder of his brigade,
and was posted in rear of the threatened point. [A
charge being suggested] Brigadier-General Cumming
gallantly proposed to lead it with two of his regiments.
I immediately consented, and directed General Cumming
to prepare for the charge, and went to the left to see that
a simultaneous charge was made on the enemy’s right

270

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

flank. ... In the meantime. General Cumming, having
placed the Fifty-sixth Georgia in line for the charge, and
supported it by placing the Thirty-sixth Georgia ten paces
in the rear, moved forward to the charge ; twice he was
checked and had to reform.

In the last effort Tennesseeans, Arkansans and Texans
joined and the enemy was driven back with a loss of 500
prisoners and eight stand of colors, of which two were
taken by the Georgia regiments. “Colonel McConnell,
of Cumming’s brigade, and other gallant soldiers who
fell in front of my works, I can but lament, ’ ’ said the
heroic Cleburne. “I did not personally know them, but I
saw and can bear witness to their gallant bearing and
noble death.’’

In General Sherman’s account of the fight he says:
“The enemy at the time being massed in great strength
in the tunnel gorge, moved a large force under cover of
the ground and the thick bushes, and suddenly appeared
on the right and rear of this command. The suddenness
of the attack disconcerted the men, and exposed as they
were in the open field, they fell back in some disorder to
the lower edge of the field and reformed.” General
Sherman contends that his main attacking columns were
not repulsed. “They engaged in a close struggle all
day, persistently, stubbornly and well. ’’ But at 3 o’clock
Sherman’s command remained in statu quo, and he did
not gain the hill until the Confederate center had yielded
to Thomas, when Gen. Morgan L. Smith’s division
advanced and found the heights before him vacant except
for the mingled Northern and Southern wounded and
dead. In this splendid fight Colonel Slaughter, the last
regimental commander of Cumming’s brigade, was
wounded. Captains Morgan and Grice commanded the
Fifty-sixth and Thirty-sixth regiments in the charge. In
the last advance Captain Cody and Lieutenant Steiner,
of Cumming’s staff, were badly wounded.

The Georgians of Bate’s brigade shared in the distin-

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

271

guished service of Breckinridge’s division under Bate’s
command, in repelling the attacks upon their front, and
in forming a second line after the first was abandoned.
Colonel Rudler, Thirty-seventh Georgia, took command
of the brigade after Colonel Tyler was killed, and was
himself badly wounded and carried from the field, during
the heroic struggle after dark which saved the rear guard
of the army. Lieut. -Col. Joseph T. Smith was men¬
tioned for special gallantry.

Hardee did for Bragg at Missionary Ridge what Thomas
had done for Rosecrans at Chickamauga, and deserves
just as much fame for it. Hardee’s corps was the last to
leave the field at Missionary Ridge, and Cleburne’s divi¬
sion covered the retreat.

The following Georgia batteries were in the battle of
Missionary Ridge: Captain Corput’s Cherokee artillery,
Capt. John B. Rowan’s, Stephens’ light artillery, Captain
Dawson’s battery under Lieut. R. W. Anderson, the
Griffin light artillery of Capt. John Scogin, Captain
Havis’ battery under Lieut. James R. Duncan; Capt.
Thomas L. Massenburg’s Jackson artillery, and Capt.
Evan P. Howell’s battery, two guns of which were on
Lookout mountain under Second Lieut. R. T. Gibson.
Major-General Stevenson, in his order to his division
(Brown’s, Pettus’ and Cumming’s brigades and the
artillery, which included the Cherokee and Stephens’ light
artillery), congratulated them on the fact that whatever
happened elsewhere, they had held their ground, repuls¬
ing every assault, and that Cumming’s brigade had actu¬
ally charged and routed the enemy in their front, captur¬
ing several colors. The army was soon in Georgia,
whence it did not again enter Tennessee until a year
later.

Cleburne halted on the night of the 26th on the banks
of the ice-cold waters of the main branch of Chickamauga
creek at Ringgold. There he received orders to take a
strong position in the gorge of Taylor’s ridge at that

272

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

place, and check the pursuit of the enemy and punish
him until the trains and the rear of the army were well
advanced. This brought on the battle of Ringgold Gap,
for which Cleburne and his heroes received the thanks of
Congress. It was Cleburne’s battle, and though he only
had Hooker to whip, it was a glorious performance, con¬
sidering that the Union army had just achieved the great¬
est victory on their record. Indeed, it would have been
a splendid and memorable achievement for troops in the
course of unchecked triumphs. The following account
of it is substantially that given by General Cleburne,
abbreviated somewhat that the more personal references
given in the narratives of Arkansas, Texas, Alabama and
Mississippi soldiery engaged may not be unnecessarily
repeated here.

The town of Ringgold stands on a plain between the
east Chickamauga creek and Taylor’s ridge, on the West¬
ern & Atlantic railroad, about 20 miles southeast of Chat¬
tanooga. Taylor’s ridge, which rises up immediately
back of the town, runs in a northerly and southerly
direction, parallel to Lookout mountain about 18
miles west. Back of the town the ridge is intersected by
a narrow gap, which admits the railroad, a wagon road,
and a good sized creek, a tributary of the Chickamauga.
The creek hugs the southernmost hill, and the wagon
road and railroad run close to the creek. At its western
mouth, near Ringgold, the gap widens out to a breadth of
over 100 yards, leaving room for a patch of level wooded
land on each side of the roads. The gap is about a half
mile through, but the plain into which it opens to the
east is so cut up by the windings of the creek that three
bridges or fords have to be crossed in the first half mile
out toward Dalton. Consequently it was a dangerous
position if the enemy should succeed in turning either
flank. The gap and adjacent hills were thinly wooded,
and the only heavy shelter of timber was a young grove
running northward 300 or 400 yards at the foot of the hill

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

273

next to Ringgold. Behind this grove Cleburne placed
Granbury’s and Kennard’s Texas regiments, Taylor’s
Texas regiment on the right, and the Seventh Texas on
top of the hill, to watch the north flank of the troops in
front. This brought in play all of Smith’s brigade, Gran-
bury commanding, on the north side of the gap. On the
south side he concealed Ashford’s Alabama regiment,
supported by three Arkansas companies. In the ravine
itself he posted four short lines of Govan’s Arkansas bri¬
gade, which also furnished skirmishers for the mouth of
the gap, in front of which he posted two Napoleon guns
under Lieutenant Goldthwaite, concealed by screens of
withered branches, with shelter for the artillerymen in a
ravine close by. The remaining three regiments of
Lowrey’s Mississippi brigade were held in reserve in the
center of the gap, and a portion of Polk’s Tennessee and
Arkansas brigade was placed temporarily at the rear
mouth of the gap.

Cleburne had scarcely half an hour to make these dis¬
positions, when he was informed that the enemy’s skir¬
mishers were pushing his cavalry across Chickamauga
creek, and immediately afterward the cavalry retreated
through the gap at a trot, and the valley in front was
clear. But close in rear of the ridge the immense army
train was still in view struggling through the fords of the
creek and the deeply cut roads leading to Dalton. Cle¬
burne’s division, silent, but cool and ready, was the only
barrier to the eager advance of Hooker’s corps, the divi¬
sion of Osterhaus in front, Geary following, and Cruft in
the rear.

The Federal skirmishers were in view advancing shortly
after 8 a. m., and under their fire Hooker formed his
lines of battle and moved with the utmost decision and
celerity against the ridge on the north.

The attack was so quick and confident that Cleburne
felt that the Federals had guides familiar with the region.
But, nothing daunted, the artillery opened upon the flank

Oa 35

274

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

of the Federals as they moved toward the ridge, and they
broke and took shelter under the railroad embankment.
Farther to the north, however, the line of attack went on
in the face of a deadly fire from Taylor’s regiment, as if
to turn the flank of the Texas brigade. Taylor thwarted
this by deploying skirmishers up the side of the hill, and
charging with three companies, routing the enemy and
capturing over 60 prisoners and the colors of the Twenty-
ninth Missouri regiment.

This effective resistance led Osterhaus to send the Sev¬
enty-sixth Ohio to attempt the ridge further north, and
supported it with the Fourth Iowa. Observing this, Cle¬
burne notified Brigadier-General Polk, in reserve, to
meet the movement, but Polk was on the lookout for an
opportunity and had sent the First Arkansas up the hill.
They met the Federal skirmishers within a few yards of
the top, and, supported by the Seventh Texas, repelled the
attack. But the massing of the enemy in that quarter
continued and Lowrey’s brigade was sent to support Polk.
At a critical moment two regiments of his Mississippians
came up at a rush and sent the enemy flying down the
hill. All of these two brigades were now massed on the
crest. Colonel Williamson, commanding the Federal col¬
umn, sent in two more Iowa regiments. Three regi¬
ments of the Twelfth corps also entered into the fight,
and (Williamson relates) unheeding the warnings of the
soldiers who had already encountered the Confederates,
marched up as if on parade, declaring they would show
the Westerners how it was done, when Polk’s and Low¬
rey’s men opened a terrific fire on them. “They stood
manfully for a minute or two,’’ said Williamson, “when
they gave way and came down like an avalanche, carrying
everything before them, and to some extent propagating
the panic among my regiments.” General Cleburne
mentions an attack of a heavy column, probably the
same, in which the enemy lost many killed, several pris¬
oners and the colors of the Seventy-sixth Ohio. The col-

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

275

ors and most of the prisoners were captured by the First
Arkansas. The fight had been so close that many of
Cleburne’s men used pistols and rocks, finding the latter
missiles effective in making prisoners. Williamson con¬
cluded he could not carry the hill without reinforcements,
and in the lull Polk rapidly threw up slight intrench-
ments.

It was Creighton’s brigade of Geary’s division that
charged the hill as mentioned by Osterhaus, and the
Seventh Ohio, which sustained a flank attack by the Sec¬
ond Tennessee, lost 12 out of 13 officers and nearly half
its men disabled. General Creighton was mortally
wounded, and Colonel Crane, of Ohio, was killed. Two
regiments of the brigade held an advanced position under
shelter, but could not advance “without almost total anni¬
hilation. ’’ Geary’s other brigades, Cobham’s and Ire¬
land’s, also came up about this time. The advance bri¬
gade of Cruft’s division entered the town, but did not
participate in the fight.

During the main attack on the north the Thirteenth
Illinois took possession of some houses and barns from
which they annoyed the Confederates in the gorge. Cle¬
burne’s skirmishers held them in check, and finally Oster¬
haus made a charge which was badly repulsed by the
infantry and Goldthwaite’s battery, the Federals leaving
killed and wounded and a stand of colors between the
lines. The battery then shelled the houses with good
effect. Both Geary and Osterhaus tell of a charge made
by the Confederates which is not mentioned by Cleburne.
Osterhaus said that “seeing their artillery threatened,
and with it the key to their position, the enemy rallied a
strong force and dashed from the gorge and down the
hill with great energy.” Geary relates, that Osterhauf
was sorely pressed, and he sent in Cobham’s and In?
land’s brigades; Cobham crossed the railroad unde
severe fire, and lay down in position; Ireland advances,
under a murderous fire of grape, canister and mus-

276

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

ketry, and “compelled the enemy to recoil in the zenith
of his audacious charge. ’ ’ So the fight raged for two hours
and a half.

At noon General Hardee sent word that the train was
safe, and after consultation with Generals Breckinridge
and Wheeler, who were present, Cleburne withdrew from
the ridge, hauled back his cannon by hand, and undis¬
turbed except by the Federal artillery, just arrived, took
up a position a mile to the rear. Cleburne had 4, 1 5 7
men in this fight, and lost 20 killed, 190 wounded and
1 1 missing. Among the killed and wounded were some
gallant regimental officers. Of the Federal losses no
official report is available for Osterhaus’ division, but it
is stated that the Seventy-sixth Ohio suffered a loss of
forty per cent, of the men engaged. Geary reported that
he had 1,870 men engaged and lost 34 killed and 169
wounded. Grant reported that the loss was heavy in
valuable officers and men. General Grant was at Ring-
gold at the close of the fight and ordered Sherman to
send a brigade down east of the ridge to flank Cleburne,
but* changed his mind a half hour later, decided not to
pursue further, and directed Thomas to send Granger to
relieve Knoxville if Longstreet was there. A rumor was
afloat that Longstreet would make a junction with Bragg
at Dalton the next day.

Grose’s brigade advancing to reconnoiter, the Confeder¬
ate position found a line strongly posted at Tunnel Hill,
which remained the northern outpost of the army of
Tennessee during the winter. Heavy rains set in and
the roads were rendered impassable.

So far, the fighting in north Georgia had been confined
within the territory enclosed by the Oostenaula and Coosa
rivers. Outside of those boundaries, the district of
Northwest Georgia was in command of Maj.-Gen. How¬
ell Cobb. As commander of the State Guard he had
suffered much embarrassment on account of lack of staff
officers, and up to November 1st he had had 5,000 men

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

277

in the field at various points without a commissary or
surgeon.

In the midst of these military movements threatening
Georgia, the State legislature was in session, and concur¬
red in the recommendation of Governor Brown for a fast
day December ioth, “in view of our national calamity
and distress. ’ ’ The legislature adopted resolutions re¬
affirming the resolutions of 1861, declaring that the separa¬
tion of those States now forming the Confederate States of
America from the United States is and ought to be final
and irrevocable, and that Georgia would under no circum¬
stances entertain any proposition from any quarter which
might have for its object a restoration or reconstruction of
the late Union on any terms or conditions whatever.

At Dalton, December 2d, General Bragg issued an
address of farewell to the army of Tennessee, and turned
over the command temporarily to Lieut. -Gen. William J.
Hardee. In the address issued by the latter, he declared
that there was no cause for discouragement. “The over¬
whelming numbers of the enemy forced us back from
Missionary ridge, but the army is still intact and in good
heart. Our losses were small and will be rapidly replaced.
Let the past take care of itself ; we can and must secure
the future. ’ ’

On the next day Gen. R. E. Lee addressed President
Davis a letter stating that he had considered with some
anxiety the situation in Georgia and Tennessee, and
believed that there were grounds to apprehend that the
enemy might penetrate Georgia and get possession of the
depots of provisions and important manufactories. Allud¬
ing to the problem of permanently replacing General
Bragg, he said only that if General Beauregard were con¬
sidered suitable for the position, General Gilmer could
take his place at Charleston. More force, he thought,
should be sent into Georgia, and it could only be had, so
far as he knew, in Mississippi, Mobile and the depart¬
ment of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Closing,

278

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

he said: “I think that every effort should be made to
concentrate as large a force as possible under the best
commander to insure the discomfiture of Grant’s army.
To do this and gain the great advantage that would accrue
from it, the safety of points practically less important
than those endangered by his army must be hazarded.
Upon the defense of the country threatened by General
Grant depends the safety of the points now held by us
on the Atlantic, and they are in as great danger from his
successful advance as by the attacks to which they are at
present directly subjected.” Beauregard, greatly unlike
Lee, but nevertheless a military genius, also offered a
plan of campaign. It was his judgment that all other
operations must be subordinated to the defense of Atlanta
against Grant, holding such places as Richmond, Weldon,
Wilmington, Charleston, Savannah, etc., merely as forti¬
fied posts with garrisons strong enough to hold out until
they could be relieved after Grant had been cared for.
Twenty thousand men should be drawn from Virginia
and a like number from other sources, forming with Har¬
dee and Longstreet a force of 100,000. Let this army
take the offensive at once, and properly handled it should
crush any force that Grant could assemble in time, in his
scattered and unprepared condition. ‘ ‘ It is concentration
and immediate mobility that are indispensable to save
us. ”

Hardee’s force was increased after the battle of Mis¬
sionary Ridge by Baldwin’s and Quarles’ brigades from
Mississippi, about 4,000 men; and in addition to that
there was a clear gain in twenty days of over 3,500.
Though a general and liberal system of furloughs had
been adopted, the effective strength of the two infantry
corps and artillery was over 35,000, December 20th.
Gen. H. R. Jackson had by energetic efforts brought
about a system of co-operation among the railroads,
which improved the commissariat.

There was a general desire on the part of the country

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

279

and of the army that Gen. Joseph E. Johnston should
be put in command. Gen. Leonidas Polk wrote to the
President, “I think your friends and history would jus¬
tify you in this, and that magnanimity perhaps may re¬
quire it at your hands.” General Johnston was assigned
to command December 16th, and assumed this position
of tremendous responsibility December 27, 1863. On
arriving at Dalton he found a “letter of instructions”
from Secretary Seddon, which in brief expressed a hope
that he would be able to provision the army and inspire
in the people and authorities “a more willing spirit,”
that as soon as the condition, of the forces permitted, it
was hoped he would be able to resume the offensive, and
if the enemy ventured to separate his army, the detach¬
ments might be struck with effect. These “instructions’ ’
were prefaced by the statement that “it is apprehended
the army may have been by recent events somewhat dis¬
heartened, and deprived of ordnance and material,” and
the hope was expressed that Johnston’s presence would
“do much to re-establish hope and inspire confidence.

. . . It is desired that your early and vigorous efforts be
directed to restoring the discipline, prestige and confi¬
dence of the army, and increasing its numbers ; and that
at the same time you leave no means unspared to restore
and supply its deficiencies in ordnance, munitions and
transportation. ” It was feared that he would have “seri¬
ous difficulties in providing the supplies required for the
subsistence of the army. ’ ’

A few days later another letter of instructions, from
the President, arrived, of a different tone. It stated that
Colonel Ives, of the President’s staff, had reported the
army well armed and provided with artillery; that the
transportation was in reasonable condition, and the troops
in good spirit and tolerably well supplied with clothing
and with thirty days’ provisions. With stragglers and
convalescents rapidly coming in, two brigades from Mis¬
sissippi and the cavalry back from Longstreet, said the

280

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

President, “the army would perhaps exceed in numbers
that actually engaged in any battle on the Confederate
side during the present war.’’ The President continued
that it was unnecessary to suggest that there was an
“imperative demand for prompt and vigorous action,” to
recover the territory from which the army had been
driven, and restore the prestige of Confederate arms.

In his answer to the President, Johnston stated that to
assume the offensive he must either invade middle or
east Tennessee. The obstacles to the first course were
Chattanooga, now a fortress, the Tennessee [river, the
rugged desert of the Cumberland mountains, and an
army outnumbering his more than two to one. The sec¬
ond course would leave open the road to Atlanta. There
was neither subsistence nor field transportation enough
for either march. “I can see no other mode of taking
the offensive here,’’ he said, “than to beat the enemy
when he advances, and then move forward. But to make
victory probable, the army must be strengthened.’’ He
made the suggestion that negroes be substituted for sol¬
diers on detached or daily duty, as well as company cooks,
pioneers and laborers for engineer service, which would
relieve 10,000 or 12,000 men for active duty.

The army of Tennessee spent the winter in the posi¬
tions taken when the Federal pursuit stopped, Johnston
fearing to remove to a better strategic line in the rear
lest he might create an injurious impression. Cleburne
held Tunnel Hill; Stewart, Mill Creek gap; Breckinridge
lay between the gap and Dalton; Hindman was mainly
southwest of Dalton; Stevenson near Hindman; Walker
east of Dalton, and Cheatham south of Walker. Grant’s
army, 80,000 strong, occupied Chattanooga, Bridgeport
and Stevenson.

During 1863 two regiments of Georgia State troops
were organized with E. M. Galt as colonel of the First,
and R. L. Storey of the Second. These were on duty at
Charleston and Savannah, and late in the year on the

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

281

State railroad, guarding bridges. Several more regi¬
ments had been completed for the Confederate service :
The Sixtieth, Col. William H. Stiles; Sixty-first, Col.
John H. Lamar; Sixty-second, Col. J. R. Griffin; Sixty-
third, Col. George A. Gordon; Sixty- fourth, Col. John
W. Evans, and Sixty-fifth, Col. John S. Fain.

Four cavalry regiments had already been formed, the
First under Col. J. J. Morrison; Second, Col. W. J. Law-
ton; Third, Col. Martin J. Crawford; Fourth, Col. Isaac
W. Avery; and in 1863 a second Fourth was organized
under Col. Duncan L. Clinch; the Fifth under Col. R. H.
Anderson; the Sixth under Col. John R. Hart; the Sev¬
enth, Col. E. C. Anderson, Jr. ; the Eighth, Col. J. L.
McAllister, and the Ninth, Col. J. Taliaferro.

On the 2 2d of June, Governor Brown, in obedience to
a requisition of the national government, issued a procla¬
mation calling for the organization of a force of 8,000
men over the age of forty-five years, or otherwise not
subject to military duty, to be mustered in for six months
from August 1st, for home defense. “To hold in check
the mighty hosts collected for our destruction by the
abolition government,’’ said the governor, “the President
is obliged to mass the provisional armies of the Confed¬
eracy at a few important key points, and cannot, without
weakening them too much, detach troops to defend the
interior points against sudden incursions. He therefore
calls upon the people of the respective States who are
otherwise not subject to be summoned to the field under
the conscription laws to organize, and while they attend
to their ordinary avocations at home, to stand ready at
a moment’s warning to take up arms and drive back the
plundering bands of marauders from their own immedi¬
ate section of country.’’ The governor requested the
citizens of the various counties to assemble at their court¬
houses on the first Tuesday of July, and organize the
number required of them by counties, and he closed his
proclamation with this appeal : ‘ ‘ Gray-headed sires ! your

GaS6

282

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

influence and your aid are invoked. The crisis in our
affairs is fast approaching. Georgia ‘expects every man
to do his duty. ’ Fly to arms and trust to God to defend
the right!”

The response to his call was very creditable to the patri¬
otism of the State. Not only 8,000, but 18,000 men offered
themselves for this service. The command of this force
was conferred upon Howell Cobb, promoted to major-
general with headquarters at Atlanta, and under him
were Brig. -Gens. Alfred Iverson, Jr., with headquarters
at Rome, and Henry R. Jackson at Savannah. Maj.-
Gen. Gustavus W. Smith, who had resigned from the
Confederate army, entered the service of the State with
especial charge, at this time, of fortifications.

At the close of the year 1863, according to the statement
published by authority of the government at Richmond,
Georgia had lost a greater number of soldiers than any
other State of the Confederacy. The list as published
is: Georgia, 9,504; Alabama, 8,987; North Carolina,
8,361; Texas, 6,377; Virginia, 5,943; Mississippi, 6,367;
South Carolina, 4,511; Louisiana, 3,039; Tennessee,
2,849; Arkansas, 1,948; Florida, 1,119.

During the fall of this year the fortification of Atlanta
was begun, under the direction of Col. M. H. Wright,
commanding.

CHAPTER XV.

THE CAMPAIGNS OF 1864 — BATTLE OF OLUSTEE —
OPERATIONS NEAR SAVANNAH— THE WILDERNESS
TO COLD HARBOR— GEORGIA TROOPS ENGAGED—
EARLY’S VALLEY CAMPAIGN.

THE first conflict to which Georgia troops were called
outside the State in the momentous year 1864
was the famous battle of Olustee, in which the
Federal column of invasion of middle Florida, designed
in addition to important military ends to aid in the estab¬
lishment of a friendly government in that State, was
entirely defeated. The invasion was made by a force
under the command of Gen. Truman Seymour, and
included such able officers as Cols. J. R. Hawley and Guy
V. Henry. General Colquitt’s brigade was ordered from
Charleston to repel the invasion, and the force organized
near Lake City to meet the Federals was composed of
two brigades. The First, including the Sixth, Nine¬
teenth, Twenty-third, Twenty-seventh and Twenty-
eighth Georgia regiments, the Sixth Florida and the
Chatham artillery, was commanded by General Colquitt.
The Second, composed of the Thirty-second and Sixty-
fourth Georgia, First regulars, First Florida battalion,
Bonaud’s battalion and Guerard’s battery, was com¬
manded by Col. George P. Harrison, Thirty-second
Georgia.

The battle was brought on near Olustee by the advance
of the Sixty-fourth Georgia, promptly supported in suc¬
cession by Colquitt’s brigade and Harrison’s. General
Colquitt commanded the line of battle, with Colonel Har¬
rison in charge of the left. The battle began at 3 o’clock
and continued until dark. From the first the Georgians

283

284

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

pushed back the enemy, and when ammunition gave out
halted and held their line without replying to the
enemy’s fire, though some of the men had never before
been in battle. When the ammunition was replenished,
General Colquitt struck the enemy on the flank with the
Sixth and Thirty-second regiments; the Twenty-seventh,
under Colonel Zachry, pushed forward with great vigor
upon the center, and the whole line went in with a yell,
whereupon the enemy gave way in confusion. The Fed¬
eral force retreated during the night, and middle Florida
was no longer troubled. The forces engaged were about
5,500 on a side, but about 600 Confederate cavalry,
counted in this, were not actively engaged. The Fed¬
eral loss was 1,861 killed, wounded and captured. The
Eighth United States, colored, lost in line of battle 300
out of 550, illustrating the effectiveness of the Confed¬
erate fire. Colquitt’s brigade lost 43 killed and 441
wounded; Harrison’s, 50 killed and 406 wounded; which,
with a few missing, made a total of 946. In his report
General Colquitt said:

The gallantry and steady courage of officers and men
during this engagement are beyond all praise. For
more than four hours they struggled with unflinching
firmness against superior numbers, until they drove them
in confusion and panic to seek safety in flight. Col.
George P. Harrison, who commanded on the left, dis¬
played skill, coolness and gallantry. The commanding
officers of the various regiments did their duty nobly.
Col. J. W. Evans, commanding Sixty-fourth Georgia,
and Captain Crawford, commanding Twenty-eighth
Georgia, both gallant officers, were wounded. Lieut. -
Col. James Barrow, Sixty-fourth Georgia, a brave and
gallant officer, received a fatal shot while gallantly
attempting to rally his men. Captain Wheaton and the
officers and men of his battery (Chatham artillery) are
entitled to especial commendation for their courage, cool¬
ness and efficiency. [Captain Grattan, assistant adjutant-
general; Lieut. Hugh H. Colquitt, aide-de-camp; Major
Ely and Lieutenant Estill of the staff, and Lieutenant
Thompson and Sterling Turner, volunteer aides, were
also commended.]

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

285

Colonel Harrison reported that a detachment of the
Thirty-second regiment, Companies H and E, under
Captain Mobley, won for itself much honor in charging
and capturing three pieces of the enemy’s artillery, and
he particularly commended Colonel Lofton, of the Sixth
regiment ; Corporal Buchanan, Company E, Sixty-fourth,
and Sergt. Thomas Battle, color-bearer First regulars.
Of his staff, Lieut. R. F. Daney, ordnance officer, was
instantly killed ; Lieut. H. P. Clark had his horse shot
under him; Lieut. George M. Blount, acting assistant
adjutant-general, was shot from his horse while riding
after ammunition. Capt. E. L. Guerard, acting brigade
quartermaster, was distinguished as a staff officer.
Among the killed and mortally wounded not previously
mentioned were Lieut. R. J. Butler, Thirty-second;
Capt. H. A. Cannon, commanding First regulars when
killed; Lieut. P. A. Waller, Sixty-fourth; and among
the wounded were Capt. W. D. Cornwell, Lieut. W. D.
Moody, Lieut. W. L. Jenkins, Lieut. J. H. Pitman,
Lieut. Morris Dawson, Thirty-second ; Lieut. P. H.
Morel, regulars; Maj. Walter H. Weems, Capt. R. W.
Craven, Lieut. J. S. Thrasher; Lieut. M. L. Raines;
Capt. J. K. Redd, Lieut. T. M. Beasley, Capt. R. A.
Brown, Lieut. J. F. Burch, Sixty-fourth; Lieuts. J. W.
Hall and Cader Pierce, Bonaud’s battalion.

During these operations in Florida a demonstration
was made on Whitemarsh island, near Savannah, by a
considerable Federal force, which landed on the morning
of February 2 2d. The enemy was repulsed after a brisk
skirmish by a detachment of the Fifty-seventh Georgia
under Captains Tucker and Turner, and a section of Max¬
well’s battery under Lieutenant Richardson.

The Confederate naval forces afloat at Savannah during
1864 were under the command of Capt. W. W. Hunter,
a native of Philadelphia, who had espoused the cause of
the South, and had been on duty on the Texas coast
and in Virginia. Commodore Tattnall remained at the

286

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

head of the naval forces. During the year the Savan¬
nah, an armored ship, was completed, and the Milledge-
ville was launched.

After the abandonment of the attacks on Fort McAllis¬
ter, Ossabaw sound was usually guarded alone by the
Federal gunboat Waterwitch, a famous side-wheel
steamer which had taken part in the Paraguay war of
1855, and fought against Commodore Hollins in the Mis¬
sissippi passes. Captain Hunter detailed 7 boats, 15
officers and 1 1 7 men to attempt the capture of this vessel,
under Lieut. Thomas P. Pelot, on May 31st. They
could not find the Waterwitch that night, but hearing the
next day of her presence in Little Ogeechee river, they
renewed the search and came alongside in the midst of a
thunderstorm on the night of June 3d. On being hailed,
Lieutenant Pelot answered, “We are rebels,” and imme¬
diately gave the command, “Board her!” Though the
Waterwitch had steamed up and was at once put in
motion, the port and starboard columns of attack, headed
by Lieutenant Pelot and Lieut. Joseph Price, got on
board, and a desperate fight with pistols and cutlasses at
once ensued, which lasted for some ten minutes. The
enemy’s fire with small-arms was very effective while
the boats were coming alongside, and while the boarding
netting was being cut through. Lieutenant Pelot was
the first to gain the deck, and was engaged in a combat
with swords with Lieutenant Pendergrast. The latter
was laid upon the deck by his antagonist, but at that
moment the paymaster of the Waterwitch, catching a
glimpse of Pelot by the glare of lightning, fired upon and
instantly killed him. Then Lieutenant Price took com¬
mand and the boarders pressed forward with such vigor
that the ship was soon surrendered. Besides Lieutenant
Pelot the Confederates lost in killed Moses Dallas (col¬
ored), Quarter-gunner Patrick Lotin, Seamen W. R.
Jones, James Stapleton and Crosby, Lieutenant Price,
Midshipman Minor and Boatswain Seymour; and Stew-

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

287

ard Harley and nine seamen were wounded. Of the
Federals, 2 were killed, 12 wounded and 77 captured. A
negro escaped and gave the alarm to other Federal ves¬
sels, so that Price was compelled to abandon his intention
to make further captures, and to take his prize back
under the guns of Beaulieu battery, where Lieut. W. W.
Carnes took command of the Waterwitch, which was
added to the Confederate flotilla.

According to the report of Maj.-Gen. Lafayette
McLaws, in command on the Georgia coast, the follow¬
ing was the strength of the Confederate posts and garri¬
sons in that department in August :

At Thunderbolt, 85 men. At Fort Bartow, 51 men.
At Whitmarsh island, one company Twenty-second
Georgia, in charge of heavy battery; three companies
Twenty-seventh battalion, two companies reserves, one
company Bonaud’s battalion, one company light artillery,
effective total 382. At river batteries, Forts Jackson
and Lee, Battery Cleves and Battery Lawton, three com¬
panies Twenty-second battalion, and Mercer artillery,
effective total 253; at Isle of Hope, three light batteries,
176 men; at Rosedew, two companies Cobb guards, 135
men; at Beaulieu, Hanleiter’s light artillery and two
companies Twenty-seventh battalion, 218 effective; at
Fort McAllister, Brooks’ light battery and Company A,
Twenty-seventh battalion, 93 men, and the First
Georgia regulars, 238 effective, in charge of Federal
officers imprisoned ; at Oglethorpe barracks, three com¬
panies reserves, 145 men; at White Bluff, Guerard’s light
artillery, 93 effective. Colonel Arthur Hood’s Twenty-
ninth Georgia battalion, 302 strong, and three companies
South Carolina cavalry, 134 men, were on coast guard
from the Ogeechee to St. Mary’s.

General McLaws stated that to be relieved from guard
duty for an entire day was an uncommon occurrence with
any soldier of his little command. On August 17th, one
of the companies of South Carolina cavalry was surprised
and mostly captured by a Federal force near South New¬
port.

In October, 1864, after the close of the Atlanta and

288 CONFEDERA TE MI LIT A R Y HIS TOR Y

Richmond campaigns, there were still on duty in South
Carolina the following Georgia troops: The Thirty-second
infantry, Bonaud’s artillery battalion, Forty-seventh
infantry, Chatham artillery. Col. George P. Harrison
was in command at Florence, where the Fifth regiment,
Col. Charles P. Daniel, was also stationed; and in Florida
were two companies of the Twenty-second battalion.

On October 31st the Georgia troops under command of
Major-General McLaws on the coast, including the Fifth
district of South Carolina, were as follows :

First regulars, six companies Second battalion and
Barnwell’s battery, under Col. R. A. Wayne; Twenty-
seventh battalion, Capt. Charles Daniell; Twenty-ninth
battalion cavalry, Capt. A. W. Hunter; Bonaud’s artil¬
lery, Capt. M. T. McGregor; Capt. J. W. Brooks’ bat¬
tery; Cobb guards, Maj. A. L. Hartridge; Daniel’s,
Guerard’s and Maxwell’s batteries, under Capt. J. A.
Maxwell; Hanleiter’s battery; Mercer artillery, Maj.
T. D. Bertody, and McAlpine’s engineers. In addition
there were the Third South Carolina cavalry, ten com¬
panies South Carolina reserves, and six South Carolina
batteries.

Although the year 1863 had closed in despondency,
before the spring campaigns opened in Georgia and Vir¬
ginia the hopes of the Southern people had been revived
by a series of brilliant successes. Olustee, the first of
these, has been described. Two days later Forrest
gained a decisive victory in Mississippi, followed by one
brilliant victory after another. Then came the defeat of
Banks in Louisiana and of Steele in Arkansas, and the
recovery of much lost territory. So when the armies in
Virginia and Georgia stood up for battle in the early
days of May, 1864, they entered upon their campaigns with
the confidence of victory. The army of Tennessee fully
believed that under Joseph E. Johnston they would
recover all that had been lost, while the army of North¬
ern Virginia had implicit confidence in Robert E. Lee.
In each of these grand armies Georgia was well repre-

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

289

sented in the number and quality of her troops in every
arm of the service.

The campaign of the spring and summer in Virginia
affords one of the most remarkable instances on record
of a successful defense against tremendous odds and
skillful combinations. Lee’s conduct of the campaign
excited the wonder of the world, and would have secured
his fame if it had nothing else on which to rest. We will
give a sketch of the part played by Georgia commands
in this wonderful campaign, in which Lee with 64,000
men met and baffled Grant’s 118,000, with all their
bounteous resources and desperate efforts. In the army
of Northern Virginia, four of the nine brigades of Long-
street’s corps were Georgians — the brigades of William
T. Wofford, Goode Bryan, George T. Anderson and
Henry L. Benning. In Ewell’s corps, John B. Gordon’s
brigade was a third of Early’s division, and one of the
five brigades of Rodes’ division was George Doles’
Georgians. In A. P. Hill’s corps were the brigade of
Ambrose R. Wright, Anderson’s division, and the bri¬
gade of Edward L. Thomas, Wilcox’s division. Calla¬
way’s and Carlton’s Georgia batteries were in the artillery
of Longstreet’s corps, commanded by a Georgian, Gen.
E. P. Alexander. Milledge’s battery was with the Sec¬
ond corps, and an entire artillery battalion from Georgia
under Col. A. S. Cutts was with A. P. Hill. In the cav¬
alry, Georgia was represented by a brigade under Gen.
P. M. B. Young, containing the Seventh regiment, Col.
W. P. White; Cobb’s legion, Col. G. J. Wright; Phillips’
legion; Twentieth battalion, Lieut. -Col. J. M. Millen ;
and, after July, by one Georgia company with the Jeff
Davis legion.

After Grant crossed the Rapidan, Lee marched to
strike his column in the Wilderness. The battle of that
day was desperate, each side holding its ground. The
Georgians of Doles’ and Gordon’s brigades were the first
to win success, regaining the ground lost upon the first

Ga 37

290

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

Federal attack ; Gordon, by a dashing charge, capturing
several hundred prisoners and relieving Doles, who
though hard pressed had held his ground.

On the 6th of May it was upon the suggestion of Gordon
that the attack was made upon the Federal right, and
his brigade, supported by Johnston’s North Carolinians
and Hays’ Louisianians, charged with such vehemence
as to take a mile of the Federal works, and capture 600
prisoners, including Generals Seymour and Shaler. Gen¬
eral Ewell in his report says that General Gordon sent
word to him by General Early at 9 o’clock that morning,
urging this very attack. Early did not think it safe, and
Ewell did not order it until he had examined the ground
himself. As soon as he had examined the ground, he
ordered Gordon to make the attack; but it was then
nearly sunset. If it had been made in the morning,
much more decisive results would have followed. On
the same day this marvelous army, under the immortal
Lee, was not only pounding the enemy, over twice its
number, on the front and right flank, but Longstreet,
coming up, sent Anderson’s and Wofford’s Georgians
with Mahone’s Virginians to attack his left flank and
rear, while Benning and Bryan fought in front. The
movement was a complete success, and the Federal line
was routed with heavy loss. It seemed at this moment
that the defeat of Grant’s army was within the grasp of
the Confederates, but as Longstreet was preparing to
follow up his success, he fell wounded from the fire of
some of his own men in the flanking column, and in the
respite thus gained the Federal officers were enabled to
secure their line.

On the 8th, Wofford’s and Bryan’s brigades fought
their way to Spottsyl vania Court House and occupied it.
Gordon, temporarily in command of Early’s division,
after a distressing march through dust and smoke,
reached there in the evening. On the intrenched line
Doles occupied one of the salients, and suffered severely

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

291

from the assault on the ioth. But the remnant of
Doles’ brigade, supported by other commands, including
Gordon’s division, soon regained the works. Anderson
at the same time repulsed a direct attack. On the 12th,
when Edward Johnson’s division was overwhelmed in
the salient by Hancock’s corps, Gordon’s brigade, now
commanded by Col. Clement A. Evans, was directly in
the rear of the left of Johnson, and moved in at double-
quick through the dense fog to the point of danger.
Pegram’s Virginians came up with them and the two
brigades were ordered to attack. The situation was
extremely critical. General Lee himself rode up and
proposed to lead the advancing line. The two brigades,
according to General Gordon’s report, “charged with the
greatest spirit, driving the enemy with heavy loss from
nearly the whole of the captured works, from the left of
Wilcox’s division to the salient on General Johnson’s
line, and fully a fourth of a mile beyond.’’ In the same
terrible fight the Georgia brigades of Wofford and Doles
were engaged with great credit.

On the 20th, General Gordon was put in command of a
division composed of his own brigade, under Evans, and
the remnant of the Stonewall division. In the desperate
attempt of Grant to break the Confederate lines at Cold
Harbor, July 1st and 2d, the Georgians of Longstreet’s
corps took a prominent and valiant part. Assault after
assault was repulsed at Kershaw’s salient, with terrible
loss to the enemy.

The Sumter Eleventh artillery battalion, under Colonel
Cutts and Major Lane, consisting of Ross’, Patterson’s
and Wingfield’s batteries, did excellent service during
this Overland campaign. On the ioth of May, in con¬
junction with Pegram’s battalion of artillery, it repulsed
an infantry attack upon the Confederate right at Spott-
sylvania. Again at Cold Harbor, June 3d, the Sumter
battalion with others materially assisted in checking the
enemy’s advance. Cabell’s battalion, embracing among

292

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

other batteries the Pulaski and the Troup artillery, also
bore a gallant part in all these battles.

At Hawe’s shop the Georgia brigade of Gen. P. M. B.
Young fought with great credit. Again at Trevilian
Station Young’s brigade made a splendid record. The
loss in Hampton’s division was 612, of whom 59 were
killed. Among the killed, Hampton greatly regretted
the loss of Lieutenant-Colonel McAllister of the Seventh
Georgia, and Capt. Whiteford D. Russell of the same
regiment, who at the time was acting major. Captain
Russell had been in service from the beginning of the
war, having been a lieutenant of the Walker light
infantry of Augusta, Company I, of Ramsey’s First
Georgia.

Early in May, Gen. A. H. Colquitt had been ordered to
Richmond, and on May 15th the Fifty-sixth regiment
was ordered up from Macon, and the Twelfth battalion
and Forty-seventh and Fifty-fifth regiments from Savan¬
nah. Colquitt’s Georgia brigade and Ransom’s North
Carolina brigade formed a division under General Col¬
quitt, in Beauregard’s forces for the defense of Peters¬
burg. The brigade bore a creditable part in the battle
near Drewry’s Bluff, May 16th, which resulted in the
bottling up of General Butler. Its loss was 1 1 killed and
146 wounded. In the June battles before Petersburg,
Colquitt’s brigade fought in Hoke’s division. Through¬
out the long siege which followed, the Georgians did their
whole duty on the Petersburg lines and before Richmond.

Toward the last of June, Hampton’s cavalry utterly
defeated the expedition of Wilson and Kautz to the
south and west of Petersburg. Again the Georgians of
Young’s brigade, under Col. G. J. Wright, had their full
share of hardships and glory. Hampton in his report
says:

The pursuit of the enemy which ended near Peters’
bridge closed the active operations which began on June
8th, when the movement against Sheridan commenced.

CONFEDERA TE MILITARY HISTORY. 293

During that time, a period of twenty-two days, the com¬
mand had no rest, was badly supplied with rations and
forage, marched upward of 400 miles, fought the greater
portion of six days, and one entire night, captured
upward of 2,000 prisoners, many guns, small-arms,
wagons, horses and other materials of war, and was com¬
pletely successful in defeating two of the most formidable
and well-organized expeditions of the enemy. This was
accomplished at a cost in my division of 719 killed,
wounded and missing.

After Grant’s disastrous repulse at Cold Harbor, the
Second corps under Early was detached to strike Hunter,
who was moving upon Lynchburg; then to move down
the valley, cross the Potomac and threaten Washington.
Maj.-Gen. John B. Gordon commanded one of the divi¬
sions of this corps. His old brigade was now commanded
by Brig. -Gen. Clement A. Evans. It embraced the
Thirteenth, Twenty-sixth, Thirty-first, Thirt}7- eighth,
Sixtieth and Sixty-first Georgia regiments and the
Twelfth Georgia battalion. In Phil Cook’s brigade of
Rodes’ division were the Fourth, Twelfth, Twenty-first
and Forty-fourth Georgia regiments. Hastening to
Lynchburg, Early chased Hunter for more than sixty
miles, capturing prisoners and artillery. Then Early
moved rapidly northward, crossed the Potomac and
marched toward Washington. In the brilliant victory at
the Monocacy, Gordon made a gallant charge which broke
the Federal lines. In this charge Gen. C. A. Evans,
who commanded the leading brigade, fell from his horse
severely wounded through the body. The Georgians also
shared in Early’s victory at Kernstown, July 24th. These
movements of Early had caused Grant to send two corps
to Washington city and to keep them in that vicinity,
and McCausland’s cavalry expedition to Chambersburg
caused him to send additional troops to Washington. In
the battle of Winchester, September 19th, the Georgians
maintained a good reputation.

In addition to the Georgia commands already men-

294

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

tioned as being with Early, there were at the battle of
Cedar Creek: in Kershaw’s division, Wofford’s brigade,
consisting of the Sixteenth, Eighteenth and Twenty-
fourth Georgia regiments, and Third Georgia battalion,
also Cobb’s Georgia legion and Phillips’ legion; in
Bryan’s brigade, commanded by Col. James P. Simms,
the Tenth Georgia, Col. W. C. Holt; Fiftieth Georgia,
Col. P. McGlashan; Fifty-first Georgia, Col. E. Ball,
and the Fifty-third Georgia. The division which
included Gen. Phil Cook’s brigade was now commanded
by General Ramseur, General Rodes having been killed
at Winchester.

At early dawn of October 19th, the divisions of Gordon,
Ramseur and Pegram, under the command of Gordon,
attacked the Federal rear ; while Kershaw and Wharton,
with all the artillery, attacked the front and flank.
The Federal army was surprised and routed, losing
much artillery and many prisoners. But late that after¬
noon, rallied by the example of Horatio Wright’s corps
and the cavalry, which had retreated in order, they
returned under Sheridan, whose cavalry force alone out¬
numbered Early’s infantry. The Confederates were
routed in turn, losing the guns captured in the morning
and twenty-three of their own. But they carried off
with them 1,500 prisoners, who were sent to Richmond.
Even after these defeats Early advanced again, and for
two days, November nth and 12th, confronted Sheri¬
dan’s whole force north of Cedar creek without being
attacked. He even sent out expeditions, which captured
prisoners and guns. In all these movements of Early,
Capt. John Milledge’s battery, of Nelson’s battalion,
participated, doing with gallantry and fidelity whatever
was required of them.

In the engagement following the mine explosion at
Petersburg, July 30, 1864, Wright’s Georgia brigade was
conspicuous. Corp. F. J. Herndon, Company F, Third
Georgia, captured the regimental flag of the Fifty-eighth

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

295

Massachusetts in the charge by Mahone’s division. Cor¬
poral Herndon’s name was one of those inscribed upon
the roll of honor read to every regiment in the service
at the first dress parade after its receipt. Slaton’s
Macon artillery shared also in the honors of this fight.

In all the fighting around Petersburg and Richmond,
Georgia was nobly illustrated by her gallant sons. Had
the Confederate armies been as successful everywhere
else as they were in Virginia through all the summer of
1864, that year would have witnessed the triumph of the
Southern cause.

Let us now see what was happening on other parts of
the general field, in the same period as the important
events just described in Virginia.

CHAPTER XVI.

THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN— FEBRUARY FIGHTING NEAR
DALTON— ORGANIZATION OF JOHNSTON’S ARMY-
CAMPAIGN FROM DALTON TO THE CHATTAHOO¬
CHEE— RESACA, NEW HOPE CHURCH AND KENESAW
MOUNTAIN— BATTLES ABOUT ATLANTA— WHEEL¬
ER’S RAID— JONESBORO AND THE EVACUATION.

BEFORE the beginning of the Atlanta campaign, sev¬
eral affairs, in which the army of Tennessee was
successful, helped to revive the spirits of the
troops. Probably the principal event which cheered
them and nerved their hearts to renewed efforts was the
appointment of Joseph E. Johnston as their commander.
Under his leadership they hoped for great results. Their
hardships were gre. ; but from boyhood they had read
and heard of the trials endured and bravely borne by the
patriots of the revolution, and though poorly clad and
scantily fed they bore their privations with brave hearts
and hoped for better things. The exhaustion of the
country was evidenced during the winter of 1863-64 in the
deprivations of the soldiers. There was a great deficiency
in blankets, and many were without shoes. The horses
also, though sent to the valley of the Etowah to graze
and be fed, remained so feeble from lack of forage that
early in February teams of the Napoleon guns were
unable to draw them up a trifling hill. Under Johnston’s
management there was soon great improvement in the
commissariat. Men and animals began to fare better.
The winter of 1863-64 was mainly devoted to discipline
and instruction of the troops. Intrenchment was indus¬
triously continued for protection of the railroad bridges
back to Atlanta, as well as about that city. Military

296

CONFEDERA TE MI LIT A R Y MIS TOR Y.

297

operations otherwise consisted in little more than skir¬
mishes of scouting parties.

On January 28, 1864, however, a considerable Federal
force, under General Palmer, advanced from Ringgold
in reconnoissance and drove in the cavalry outposts before
Tunnel Hill, but retired as soon as it was discovered that
that position was still held by Cleburne. On the 17th of
February, on account of Sherman’s Meridian expedition,
the divisions of Cheatham, Cleburne and Walker, under
General Hardee, were forwarded to Mississippi to assist
Gen. Leonidas Polk, but they were soon recalled, Sher¬
man having retreated from Meridian to Vicksburg.

Commencing a campaign in earnest, Grant directed
Thomas to utilize his well-prepared army of the Cumber¬
land by gaining possession of Dalton and as far south of
that as possible. In compliance with this order, Johnson’s
and Baird’s divisions, of Palmer’s corps, occupied Ring-
gold on the 2 2d of February, and Cruft’s division went to
Red Clay on the railroad to Cleveland, Tenn. Davis’
division reinforced Palmer at Ringgold. Long’s brigade
of cavalry advanced toward Dalton. The whole Federal
strength in this movement was twelve brigades of infan¬
try, one of cavalry, and several batteries. To meet them
Johnston posted Stewart’s and Breckinridge’s divisions
before Mill Creek gap, northeast of Dalton, and Steven¬
son north of Dalton. On February 24th, Palmer advanced
in three columns, the center directed against Wheeler’s
cavalry. As Thomas reported, the center “met with a fire
at long range from a battery of Parrott guns, the enemy’s
practice being excellent and succeeding in checking the
column.” But the flanking columns advanced and com¬
pelled Wheeler to retire, and the Federals encamped that
night in the valley immediately before the pass called
Buzzard Roost, through which the railroad passes. On
the next day two Federal divisions held the position
at Buzzard Roost, and two others, with the cavalry, were
sent around by the north to make an attack in the rear

Ga 38

298

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

of the pass in Crow valley. Major-General Hindman
met this flank movement very skillfully, posting Clay¬
ton’s brigade of Stewart’s division, and Reynolds’ bri¬
gade, near the base of the mountain, and Brown’s, Pettus’
and Cumming’s brigades on the opposite heights to the
east, and maintained a brisk skirmish with the enemy all
day. Late in the afternoon a sharp attack was made
upon Clayton, which was repulsed. During the greater
part of the day the Thirty-ninth Georgia was exposed to
a lively fire of shells, which failed to move them. Cum¬
ming’s brigade suffered a loss of i killed and 25 wounded.

Meanwhile a serious attack was made at the gap against
Stovall’s brigade. His skirmishers fell back until the
enemy was in range of the artillery on the ridge, which
opened, and in co-operation with the Forty-second Geor¬
gia, Col. R. J. Henderson commanding, made a vigorous
charge, which drove back the enemy’s line in great con¬
fusion. The Federals left 30 dead on the field and 15
prisoners. The Forty-second lost 1 man killed and 14
wounded. Colonel Curtiss, of the Forty-first Georgia,
was severely wounded.

The Thirty-ninth Indiana held a pass six miles south
which threatened the Confederate position, and Gran -
bury’s Texas brigade, the first of Hardee’s to return
from the trip toward Meridian, was sent to drive them
out at dawn of the 26th. Granbury executed this move¬
ment skillfully and promptly, and the enemy hastily
retired.

Palmer’s forces withdrew during the night of the 26th
and were pursued to Ringgold by Wheeler. The Confed¬
erate strength in this creditable affair was seven brigades
on the 25th and eleven on the 26th. The Federal loss
was reported at 43 killed, 267 wounded, 35 missing.
The Confederate loss was about 270 killed and wounded.

On March 5th, General Wheeler with 600 men passed
through Nickajack gap and attacked an Indiana cavalry
regiment at Leet’s tanyard, contemplating its capture,

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

299

but the Federals escaped, leaving their camp, wagons and
stores, and a number of prisoners in Wheeler’s care.

In reply to an inquiry from General Johnston he was
informed by General Bragg, now acting as military ad¬
viser with office at Richmond, that he was desired to have
everything in readiness for a forward movement at the
earliest practicable moment, but a definite increase of
his army, which J ohnston requested, was not promised.
General Johnston was furnished a plan of campaign by
the war department, brought by Colonel Sale, General
Bragg’s military secretary, in which it appeared that the
great result desired by the Confederate government was
the reclaiming of the provision country of Kentucky and
Tennessee, and an increase of the army by recruits. To
aid in taking the offensive there would be sent him
5,000 men from Polk and 10,000 from Beauregard, as
soon as he was ready to use them, giving him a total
strength, including Longstreet’s corps, of 75,000. In
acknowledging the receipt of this plan of campaign, John¬
ston declared that he expressly accepted taking the
offensive, but wanted his full strength assembled first.

At this juncture Lieut. -Gen. U. S. Grant was assigned
to the duties of commander of the armies of the United
States, Maj.-Gen. William T. Sherman to command of the
military division of the Mississippi, and Maj.-Gen. James
B. McPherson to command of the department of the
Tennessee; Maj.-Gen. George H. Thomas retaining his
position as commander of the department and army of the
Cumberland. From Washington, Grant wrote to Sherman
a private and confidential letter, saying: “I propose for
you to move against Johnston’s army, to break it up and
to get into the interior of the enemy’s country as far as
you can, inflicting all the damage you can against their
war resources. ’ ’ About the same time Sherman received
a map marked to show the contemplated movements, in¬
dicating that he was expected to advance to Atlanta, and
thence to Savannah. On April 24th he reported that he

300

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

was ready except getting up McPherson’s command from
Cairo, mostly on furlough. He also stated his opinion
that in the coming campaign Johnston would be “com¬
pelled to hang to his railroad, the only possible avenue of
supply to the Southern army, estimated from 45,000 to
65,000 men.’’ Sherman’s army numbered nearly 100,000
men.

About the middle of April, Johnston sent his adjutant-
general, Col. B. S. Ewell, to Richmond to state the situ¬
ation and his own position of readiness to advance if he
could be reinforced. But this mission did not result in
definite arrangements.

The Confederate army of Tennessee on May 1st was
composed of two infantry corps, under Lieut. -Gen. Will¬
iam J. Hardee and Lieut. -Gen. John B. Hood, and one
cavalry corps under Maj.-Gen. Joseph Wheeler. The
organization of the corps was as follows :

Hardee’s corps: Major-General Cheatham’s division,
composed of the brigades of Maney, Strahl, Carter and
Vaughan, all from Tennessee. Major-General Cleburne’s
division, composed of Polk’s Arkansas and Tennessee bri¬
gade, Govan’s Arkansas brigade, Lowrey’s Alabama and
Mississippi brigade, and Granbury’s Texas brigade.
Major-General Walker’s division, composed of J. K. Jack¬
son’s Georgia and Mississippi brigade, Gist’s Georgia and
South Carolina brigade, and C. H. Stevens’ Georgia bri¬
gade. Maj.-Gen. William B. Bate’s division, composed
of Lewis’ Kentucky brigade, Bate’s (Tyler’s) Georgia and
Tennessee brigade, and Finley’s Florida brigade.

Hood’s corps: Maj.-Gen. T. C. Hindman’s division,
including Deas’ Alabama brigade, Tucker’s Mississippi
brigade, Manigault’s Alabama and South Carolina bri¬
gade, and Walthall’s Mississippi brigade. Maj.-Gen.
C. L. Stevenson’s division, composed of Brown’s Ten¬
nessee brigade, Reynolds’ North Carolina and Virginia
brigade, Alfred Cumming’s Georgia brigade, and Pettus’
Alabama brigade. Maj.-Gen. Stewart’s division, com¬
posed of Stovall’s Georgia brigade, Gibson’s Louisiana
brigade, Clayton’s Alabama brigade, and Baker’s Ala¬
bama brigade.

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

301

Wheeler’s cavalry corps: Maj.-Gen. W. H. Martin’s
division, including the Alabama brigade of Gen. J. T.
Morgan and the Georgia brigade of Gen. Alfred Iverson;
Brig. -Gen. J. H. Kelly’s division, composed of the Con¬
federate brigade of Gen. W. W. Allen, and the Tennes¬
see brigade of Col. G. G. Dibrell; Brig. -Gen. W. Y. C.
Humes’ division — Humes’ Tennessee brigade, Arkansas
and Texas brigade of Col. Thomas Harrison, Kentucky
brigade of Col. T. W. Grigsby, and Alabama brigade of
Col. M. W. Hannon.

The artillery of Hardee’s corps consisted of four battal¬
ions under Col. Melancthon Smith; of Hood’s corps, three
battalions under Col. R. F. Beckham ; of the cavalry corps,
one battalion under Lieut. -Col. F. H. Robertson.

The Georgia brigade of Gen. H. W. Mercer, composed
of the First volunteer regiment, Col. C. H. Olmstead;
Fifty-fourth, Lieut. -Col. Morgan Rawls; Fifty-seventh,
Lieut. -Col. C. S. Guyton; Sixty-third, Col. G. A. Gor¬
don, was afterward added, from Savannah, and assigned
to Walker’s division. Cantey’s brigade was brought
from Mobile to Rome.

The strength of the army of Tennessee, according to
the abstract of returns for April 30th, was as follows:
Hardee’s corps, 25,782; Hood’s corps, 24,379; Wheeler’s
corps, 10,058; artillery reserve, engineers, etc., 1,500.
The aggregate present was 61,947. Of this there were
reported present for duty, 4,524 officers and 48,333 men.
The effective total present was reported at 41,434. The
addition of Cantey’s brigade brought in about 2,000 effec¬
tives, Mercer’s brigade about 3,000. Dibrell’s and Har¬
rison’s brigades of cavalry were not counted, being in
the rear recruiting horses.

The strength of the Federal armies is stated in General
Sherman’s report:

On the 27 th of April I put all the troops in motion
toward Chattanooga, and on the next day went there in
person. My aim and purpose was to make the army of
the Cumberland 50,000 men, that of the Tennessee 35,000,
and that of the Ohio 15,000. On the first of May the

302

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

effective strength of the several armies for offensive pur¬
poses was about as follows: Army of the Cumberland,
Major-General Thomas commanding; infantry, 54,568;
artillery, 2,377; cavalry, 3,828; total 60,773; guns, I3°!
Army of the Tennessee, Major-General McPherson com¬
manding; infantry, 22,437; artillery, 1,404; cavalry, 624;
total 24,465; guns, 96; Army of the Ohio, Major-Gen¬
eral Schofield commanding; infantry, 11,183; artillery,
679; cavalry, 1,697; total 13,559; gnns, 28. Grand aggre¬
gate, troops 98,797, guns 254.

As for the supplies, “a very respectable quantity” had
been accumulated at Chattanooga, and during the entire
campaign, says the Federal commander, stores were sent
forward in ‘‘wonderful abundance.” Sherman made his
forward movement during the first week in May by orders
from Grant, skirmishing steadily at Stone church May
1st, Lee’s cross-roads the 2d, and daily afterward at vari¬
ous points more or less severely through the entire month,
gaining ground only to the south of the Etowah.

Johnston was in a rough and partially mountainous
country, which, while partly available for defense, also
aided his antagonist in movements to the flank. The moun¬
tainous region in which the campaign began did not fur¬
nish formidable ranges lying across the avenues of attack,
with flanks remote from convenient approach. It was
true that Dalton and the Confederate line lay back of
Rocky Face, an inaccessible ridge, but an inconsiderable
detour would bring the enemy into the north end of the
valley, and as the ridge lay parallel to the railroad essen¬
tial to the safety of Johnston’s army, a flank attack at
the south would at once compel his retreat. At the
beginning of the campaign, two Federals to one Confed¬
erate was approximately the relative strength of the
opposing forces. After Polk united with Johnston, the
difference was not so great, but was always sufficient to
permit Sherman to take advantage of the topography,
and while covering Johnston’s front, to move his surplus
force against the Confederate flank. Sherman’s aggre-

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

308

gate of 98,797 men was increased to 112,819, according to
the returns of May 31st.

On the 5th of May, Johnston’s army was 'concen¬
trated near Dalton. Stewart’s and Bate’s divisions were
in Mill Creek gap, Stewart on the north of the stream
and Cheatham on his right, extending about a mile on
the crest of the ridge. Walker was in reserve. Steven¬
son faced north across Crow valley, his left touching
Cheatham’s right on the mountain. Hindman extended
Stevenson’s right, and Cleburne lay in front of Dalton,
facing in the direction of Cleveland.

Thomas was about Ringgold, Schofield at Red Clay on
the railroad to Cleveland, and McPherson at Gordon’s
mills. A glance at the map will show the general posi¬
tions of the armies. Sherman’s report states that the
pass between Tunnel Hill and Dalton, known as Buzzard
Roost, was narrow, well obstructed, and strongly defended
by artillery, preventing an attack in front against Dalton.
An attack from the north was likewise to be avoided on
account of “a strong line of works behind Mill creek.”
Hence McPherson was ordered to advance to Snake Creek
gap, at the southern extremity of Rocky Face, whence it
was a short march to Resaca, on the railroad 18 miles
south of Dalton. Johnston was aware of this, but he
had decided to make no fight to hold the Dalton position,
and did not attempt effectively to hold Snake Creek gap.
He reckoned on the length of time it would take his
enemy to reach Resaca, and knowing that he could get
his own army there in one night’s march, held on at Dal¬
ton until compelled to let go.

On the evening of the 7 th, the Federal line had advanced
past Tunnel Hill to Mill Creek gap. On the 8th there
was sharp fighting on Rocky Face before Dalton, in one
place Pettus’ Alabamians, and at Dug gap, Reynolds’
Arkansans and Grigsby’s Kentuckians, handsomely repel¬
ling all assaults.

On the next day there was a vigorous Federal attack,

304 CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

which fell upon the brigades of Pettus and Brown at the
angle on Rocky Face, on Stovall’s and Baker’s on the
ridge, and on Bate in the gap, but the gallant Confeder¬
ates held their ground with firmness, and the enemy
suffered severely. The fight, said Sherman, “attained
the dimensions of a battle.’’ The Federals repeatedly
charged and were as often repulsed.

Meanwhile McPherson’s army reached Snake Creek
gap, and his cavalry advance encountered some Confed¬
erate forces, including Grigsby’s Kentucky cavalry and
the cadets of the Georgia military institute, supported
by Cantey’s brigade. The cadets made reputation in
this fight, which was among the earliest of their engage¬
ments, and did in fact delay McPherson materially,
though driven back into the works at Resaca. After
skirmishing until nearly dark, and finding that he could
not succeed in cutting the railroad that afternoon, Mc¬
Pherson decided to withdraw the command and take up
a position for the night between Sugar valley and the
entrance to the gap.

Johnston had sent Hood, with Hindman, Cleburne and
Walker, to Resaca, but learning of McPherson’s retreat,
withdrew Cleburne and Walker to Tilton, midway, and
being advised that General Polk had arrived at Resaca
with Loring’s division, army of the Mississippi, he calmly
maintained his position at Dalton. During the nth and
12th he annoyed the enemy with tentative movements,
one of these being a reconnoissance around the north end
of the mountain by General Wheeler, in which that offi¬
cer defeated Stoneman’s cavalry and caused the enemy
considerable loss in men and wagons.

On the 14th of May, Sherman found the Confederate
army in a strong position behind Camp Creek, occupying
the forts at Resaca with its right on some high chestnut
hills, to the north of the town. Thus ended the first
stage of the campaign which changed the Confederate
front from the mountains before Chattanooga to Resaca
on the Oostenaula river.

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

305

Before Resaca, Loring had held back the enemy
until Hardee’s and Hood’s corps arrived and took
position. Then the army was formed in two lines,
Polk and Hardee facing west, with Polk’s left on
the Oostenaula, while Hood faced northwest, his right
extending to the Connesauga river. Sherman’s army
approached these lines on the 13th, and on the 14th skir¬
mishing began all along the Confederate front. The only
advantage the enemy gained was on Polk’s front, where
Logan reached a ridge the Confederates had held, in¬
trenched, and resisted the attempt to drive him out.
With his cannon he commanded the Confederate pontoon
bridges. Hood attacked the Federal left in the after¬
noon, striking Howard and Stanley. In this combat the
larger share of the fighting fell to Stevenson’s division,
in which was the Georgia brigade of Alfred Cumming,
which won from General Stevenson the remark, “I was
much gratified by the gallantry with which the move¬
ment was made. ”

The fight on the 15 th was inaugurated by the advance of
Hooker, which Hindman’s line bravely met. Although
several vigorous assaults were made, they were all repelled
by Hindman’s first line alone. Major-General Stevenson
had early in the day assumed the position from which he
had been recalled the night before. Here, by the order
of General Hood, he placed a four-gun battery in position
some 80 yards in front of his line of infantry. Be¬
fore it could be properly supported, its fire was opened and
this drew upon it so fierce an attack that the guns could
not be drawn back to the main line of the division. But
Brown’s and Reynolds’ brigades opened an effective fire
upon the Federals, driving them back from the guns.
General Hood was now under renewed orders to advance,
and Stewart had actually assailed the Federal left, when
the order was countermanded upon positive information
that the Federals had crossed the Oostenaula to the west¬
ward, at Lay’s or Tanner’s ferry, and pushed back Mar-

Ga 89

306

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

tin’s cavalry. Near this point Jackson’s Georgia brigade
made a fierce assault upon the greater part of Sweeney’s
division under Corse, and met a bloody repulse. The
Confederate army crossed the river at midnight while
the Federals were asleep, and the main body marched
south of Calhoun while Hardee held back the advance of
Thomas. On the 16th, while Thomas’ main army con¬
fronted Johnston near Calhoun, McPherson was march¬
ing toward Rome, and Schofield and Hooker on the left
toward Cassville.

Johnston, not finding a good position at Calhoun, with¬
drew the following night to Adairsville, and took position
while Cheatham and Wheeler held back the enemy, who
skirmished actively throughout the day in his front. On
that day the cavalry division of Brig. -Gen. William H.
Jackson, 3,700 strong, arrived from Mississippi, and on
the next day French’s division, of Polk’s corps, joined the
army. Johnston does not state that he was aware that
he was being flanked on each side while at Adairsville,
but he says: “The probability that the Federal army
would divide gave me a hope of engaging and defeating
one of the columns before it could receive aid from the
other.’’ On the morning of the 1 8th, the Federals at
Adairsville again found Johnston gone. Hardee’s corps
had marched to Kingston, Polk’s and Hood’s to Cassville.

Johnston intended to turn back and overwhelm the col¬
umn following him from Adairsville. On the 19th Hood
was directed to advance on a country road parallel to the
main road to Adairsville, and east of it, while Polk took
that road straight back. While Polk attacked in front,
Hood would turn the enemy’s flank. News that a battle
would be fought was received by the troops with exul¬
tation, as it had been at Resaca. But when General
Hood had advanced two or three miles he was informed
that the enemy was approaching the rear of the right of
the position he had just vacated, and he fell back and
took position across the Canton road. General Thomas

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY .

307

reported to Sherman that the Confederates “had fallen
back in echelon of divisions steadily and in superb order
into Cassville. ’ ’

Johnston placed his army along the ridges near Cass¬
ville, in what he regarded as the best position he occu¬
pied during the campaign. Hood’s and Polk’s and half of
Hardee’s corps in that order from north to south, in
double lines. The remainder of Hardee’s corps extended
the line beyond the railroad toward the river. On the
evening of the 19th the Federal artillery was engaged in
firing on the Confederate line until night. The contest
about Cassville was very severe, especially between the
batteries on the opposing ridges. Sharp skirmishing
occurred on the streets. The fine college buildings and
many others were riddled with balls. Some of them
were fired and consumed, and afterward the beautiful
little city was wantonly burned. Johnston intended to
give battle at Cassville, but again the expected struggle
did not occur, and the reason for the retreat is in dispute.
As General Johnston relates it, Generals Hood and Polk
“expressed their opinion very positively on the night of
the 19th that neither of their corps would be able to hold
its position next day ; because, they said, a part of each
was enfiladed by Federal artillery;’’ and they advised
that the army retreat across the Etowah. General Har¬
dee remonstrated, being confident that his corps, though
less favorably posted, could hold its own. Hood’s state¬
ment is that he declared the position unsuited for defense,
but he was ready to attack if so ordered. General John¬
ston admits that he was aware that a part of General
Polk’s line could be swept by artillery, if posted on a hill
a mile distant, but he considered the danger trifling. At
any rate, the army again retreated on the 20th, crossing
the Etowah river, “a step,’’ Johnston reported, “which I
have regretted ever since. ’ ’

In the fighting of this day (May 19th), Mercer’s bri¬
gade was thrown out in Walker’s front and the Sixty-

308

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

third Georgia was put in advance of the brigade to sup¬
port the skirmish line. The skirmishers of the brigade
were commanded by Maj. J. V. H. Allen, of the Sixty-
third. In the spirited skirmish which occurred, his scab¬
bard was dented and his clothing pierced by minie balls,
but he was unhurt. When orders came to retire the
brigade to the line of battle, the Sixty-third was nearly
surrounded by the enemy. The regiment was skillfully
extricated from its perilous position by Lieutenant- Colo¬
nel Black and the acting adjutant, Lieut. George W.
McLaughlin, of Company A (the Oglethorpes of Au¬
gusta), and marched in order to the position assigned it
in line of battle. Among the killed was Legare Hill,
son of Hon. Joshua Hill, of Madison, Ga. Two of his
comrades took up the lifeless body, conveyed it to a little
abandoned cottage, pinned his name upon his jacket and
left him there. Although this was done in full view of
the Federal skirmishers, not a shot was fired at the two
men until they had rejoined their comrades. The Fed-
erals coming up, took the body of young Hill, buried it,
and marked the grave by a headboard on which they
cut the name which they found pinned to his jacket.

On the 19th a Federal division occupied Rome, captur¬
ing a large amount of commissary and quartermaster
stores, hospital supplies and ammunition, and the valua¬
ble iron works, which were partly destroyed before the
town was abandoned by the small Confederate guard;
and early next day Howard occupied Kingston.

Sherman had now taken two weeks to advance
from Dalton to Cassville, during which the casual¬
ties of the Confederate army were 441 killed and
2,943 wounded. The corps which suffered most was
Hood’s; the division, Cantey’s. Sherman says he lost
2,747 at Resaca alone. After leaving Cassville, Johnston
encamped his corps not far from the Etowah river and
watched for the enemy’s next move.

The gallant Wheeler, commanding the cavalry on the

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

309

east, made a dash around the Federal left, and on the
24th drove the guard from a large supply train near Cass-
ville, capturing 200 wagons, all of which he burned
except 70 loaded wagons and teams, which he brought off
with 300 equipped horses and mules, and 182 prisoners.
In the meantime Gen. W. H. Jackson, commanding the
cavalry on the other wing, observed that the Federal
troops were still moving to their right, and were crossing
the Etowah near Stilesboro. Information from Wheeler
and Jackson given Johnston near the pass of Alla-
toona, satisfied him that Sherman was making a detour
toward Dallas, and he promptly took advantage of two
strong lines extending thence toward Dallas, and facing
nearly northwest. One of these lines capable of defense
was on Allatoona creek, the front line on Pumpkin Vine
creek, running southwest from the vicinity of Allatoona.

The Federal forces crossed the Etowah at Rome and
other points between there and Stilesboro, and, to meet
this movement, Johnston on the 23d sent Hardee’s corps
toward Dallas, Polk moving in the same direction on the
left, and on the next day Hood followed Hardee. Hood’s
corps was placed with its center at New Hope church,
Polk and Hardee between that corps and the highway to
Atlanta from Dallas, which Hardee’s left was to cover.
On the 25th the enemy approached through Dallas and
along Pumpkin Vine creek, skirmishing with the Con¬
federate advance guard, and spread out northeastward in
a line parallel to that of Johnston. The two armies were
now farther from the railroad than at any other period
of the campaign.

Hooker pushed across Pumpkin Vine creek toward New
Hope church, and was met by Col. Bush Jones with his
Alabama regiment and sharpshooters, of Stewart’s divi¬
sion, in all 300 men, who for some time made a resolute
resistance. But Hooker crowded them back, and an hour
and a half before sunset the Federal cannon opened oppo¬
site Hood’s center. Shortly after, in the midst of a ter-

310

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

rific thunderstorm, the Federals, struggling on through
the mud, struck the Confederate line. Two divisions
assailed Stewart, in such deep order that their front only-
equaled that of the three brigades of Stewart’s first
line. “After opening their fire,’’ says Johnston, “the
Federal troops approached gradually but resolutely,
under the fire of three brigades and sixteen field pieces,
until within fifty paces of the Confederate line. Here,
however, they were compelled first to pause, and then to
fall back, by the obstinate resistance they encountered. ’’
Again and again they marched up against Stewart’s men,
who had the shelter of such hastily-constructed log
works as Thomas employed at Chickamauga. Stovall’s
Georgia brigade, though without that protection, stoutly
held its ground. This battlefield is remembered by
Federal veterans as the “Hell Hole.’’

Sherman changed his tactics at dawn of the next day,
and pushed forward on his left flank, requiring Johnston
to transfer Polk’s corps to Hood’s right toward Acworth.
The Federals intrenched and allowed the day to pass
without combat except a gallant cavalry episode on
the right flank, in which Avery’s Georgia regiment held
its ground for some time unaided against a large body of
Federal cavalry. Colonel Avery was desperately wounded
in the outset, but supported by a soldier in his saddle,
continued in command, and maintained the contest until
relieved by a more adequate force.

Despite the rain, which was nearly incessant for seven¬
teen days, Sherman pushed on his intrenched line toward
the railroad, compelling the transfer of Cleburne’s divi¬
sion in that direction. On the evening of the 27th, near
Pickett’s mill, Howard, thinking he had reached the
extreme right of the Confederate line, sent the divisions
of Wood and R. W. Johnson to attack. Kelly’s cavalry,
fighting on foot, bore the first attack, supported by Gran-
bury’s Texans and two regiments of Govan’s brigade.
Wheeler sent in part of Humes’ cavalry, and Lowrey’s

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

311

brigade was hurried up. The fighting was severe, and the
Federals were repulsed with heavy loss. According to
the count of officers and men who went over the ground,
the Federal slain alone numbered 700. About 10 o’clock
at night Granbury charged and captured 232 prisoners, a
third of whom were severely wounded. Cleburne’s loss
was 85 killed and 363 wounded. Johnston estimated the
Federal total loss at about 3,500. On the next day
McPherson attempted to withdraw from in front of Dal¬
las, and General Bate’s division, supported by Armstrong’s
brigade of cavalry, made a spirited assault upon the Fed¬
eral corps of Dodge and Logan in an intrenched position,
and were of course repulsed.

The heavy engagements at New Hope church, Pick¬
ett’s mill and Dallas were only a part of the fighting on
this line. The daily skirmishing all along the front of
the armies greatly swelled the list of casualties in this
ten days’ fight. On the skirmish line every regiment in
the army was represented, and many unrecorded deeds of
daring were performed. On the front of Mercer’s Geor¬
gia brigade, near Ellsbury ridge, the Sixty-third regiment
was thrown forward, and Company A of that regiment
placed still farther in the front. For twenty-four hours
the devoted men of this company remained in that posi¬
tion without rations, which reminded them of some of
their experiences in West Virginia in the days of 1861.
Here Capt. Louis Picquet lost a leg and was disabled
for further duty in the field.

In all the fighting on the New Hope church line, the
Confederate loss exclusive of the cavalry, which was
small, and prisoners, is reported by Foard as follows:
Hardee’s corps, 173 killed, 1,048 wounded; Hood’s corps,
103 killed, 679 wounded; Polk’s corps, 33 killed, 194
wounded; total, 309 killed and 1,921 wounded. The cav¬
alry on the right, commanded by General Wheeler, lost
from May 6th to 31st, 73 killed and 341 wounded, and

312

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

captured from the enemy more than 500 prisoners, as
many horses, and 5 standards.

Sherman now grew anxious to get to the railroad with
his main command. Stoneman and Schofield worked
their way down on that line as far as Acworth on June
3d, and Sherman finally established connection. From
Dallas, he had been fighting his way backward. After a
delay of ten days and heavy loss, he had not gained a
step toward Atlanta, and with the single exception of the
fight at Dallas, had received a bloody repulse at every
point.

Johnston’s position had become untenable on account
of the advance on his right, and consequently, on the 4th
of June, he gained and established a new line, still more
defensible, along the Brush, Pine and Lost mountains,
across the railroad and before Marietta near Kenesaw
mountain. Here he held Sherman for a month.

At this time the three divisions of Polk’s army of Missis¬
sippi with Johnston were Loring’s, French’s and Can-
tey’s, with artillery. The army under Johnston thus
increased, numbered, according to the return of June
10th, 6,538 officers and 63,408 men present for duty.
The effective total was returned at 60,564; aggregate
present 82,413, guns 187. About 12,000 of the effective
force were in the cavalry. Sherman’s army was also
stronger than at the opening of the campaign, by the
reinforcements sent him from the rear. The return of
May 31st showed an infantry strength of 4,651 officers and
89,659 men; cavalry, 12,908 officers and men ; artillery,
5,600; total, 112,819. Blair’s corps, about 9,000, was not
with Sherman on the New Hope line, and several bri¬
gades were engaged in guarding communications at the
rear.

About the time that the army crossed the Etowah, Gov¬
ernor Brown ordered the militia and civil officers of the
State to assemble at Atlanta. These were exempt from
conscription by the Confederate States government, but

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

313

were now required by the State to enter the military serv¬
ice. Three thousand in number, they were organized
into two brigades by Adjt.-Gen. H. C. Wayne. Those
not elected officers were required to take places in the
ranks on pain of being sent to the conscript camp of the
Confederate army. Still later, the men of the State up to
fifty-five years were called out, and the boys down to
sixteen, armed with such firearms as were to be obtained.
Under the command of General Wayne, part of the militia
guarded the crossings of the Chattahoochee from Ros¬
well to West Point, while 1,000 were in camp of instruc¬
tion at Atlanta. On June ist, Maj.-Gen. Gustavus W.
Smith, who two years before had had the duty of com¬
manding the army before Richmond during the brief
interim between Johnston and Lee, was elected by the
militia as their major-general.

On June 8th, up to which time there had been constant
but not extensive skirmishing, especially by the cavalry
along the railroad, Johnston’s army was formed on a line
extending across the railroad north of Kenesaw mount¬
ain. Hardee’s left was at Gilgal church, Bate’s division
occupying the summit of Pine mountain, a hill about 300
feet high and considerably to the front of the main line ;
Polk’s right was near the Acworth and Marietta road east
of the railroad, covered by Noonday creek; and Hood
was massed on the right of the Acworth road. The cav¬
alry extended this line to the right and left. Between
the ist and 4th of June, Wheeler’s troops captured about
100 prisoners. After a succession of skirmishes, they
drove the enemy before them beyond Big Shanty.

Sherman, meanwhile, was establishing a secondary base
at Allatoona, building a bridge over the Etowah and
completing the railroad in order to bring up supplies.
On the 8th of June, Gen. Frank P. Blair arrived at
Acworth with about 9,000 men of the Seventeenth corps
and a brigade of cavalry. ‘ ‘ This accession of force, ’ ’ said
Sherman, “about compensated for our losses in battle,

Ga40

314

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

and the detachments left at Resaca, Rome, Kingston and
Allatoona.”

On the 9th of June, Sherman, having made his commu¬
nications to the rear secure and obtained ample supplies,
moved forward to Big Shanty. “On approaching close
to the enemy,” he wrote, “I found him occupying a line
full 12 miles long, more than he could hold with his
force. General McPherson was ordered to move toward
Marietta, his right on the railroad ; General Thomas on
Kenesaw and Pine mountains, and General Schofield off
toward Lost mountain; General Garrard’s cavalry to the
left and General Stoneman on the right, and General
McCook to our rear and communications.’’ Gen. W. H.
Jackson held Stoneman in check for several days, aided
by the line of intrenchments between Lost mountain and
Gilgal church, and Wheeler and Garrard engaged in
daily and strenuous contests.

On the 1 ith, Sherman prepared to attempt to break the
line between Kenesaw and Pine mountains, and on the
morning of the 14th, it being feared that Bate (posted on
the latter hill) might be easily isolated, Johnston, Har¬
dee and Polk rode to the summit to survey the country
before them from that eminence. Just as the officers
had finished their inspection and concluded to abandon
the mountain, a Federal battery opened fire upon them,
the group having become conspicuous by the addition of
a party of soldiers. The third shot passed through the
body of Lieutenant-General Polk, causing his instant
death. “The death of this eminent Christian and soldier,
who had been distinguished in every battle in which the
army of Tennessee had been engaged, ’’ says General
Johnston, “produced deep sorrow in our troops.” Maj.-
Gen. W. W. Loring, the ranking officer in the corps, took
temporary command, and was later succeeded by A. P.
Stewart, promoted to lieutenant-general.

Before daybreak on the 15th, Pine mountain was aban¬
doned, and Bate placed in reserve. The Federals, fol-

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

315

lowing up closely, pressed the Confederate skirmishers
vigorously. McPherson, overlapping Hood, captured
prisoners of the Fortieth Alabama regiment. Loring’s
skirmishers, being far in front and attacked by a line,
were forced back. Schofield, penetrating between Lost
mountain and Gilgal church, where the line was held by
skirmishers, put his artillery in position to take Hardee
in reverse. Mercer’s Georgia brigade, near Gilgal
church, by a strange oversight came near being cut off
and captured. As they made their escape, Olmstead’s
First volunteer regiment suffered considerable loss in
killed and wounded.

On the night of the 16th, Johnston abandoned the Gil¬
gal church and Lost mountain line with all the intrench-
ments, drawing Hardee’s corps, his left, back behind
Mud creek, the remainder of the line holding its ground.
This disposition made an angle at the junction of Har¬
dee’s right and Loring’s left, and exposed the troops
near the angle to an enfilade fire. The Federal right
approached Hardee’s position, resisted by Jackson’s cav¬
alry division as well as 2,500 men could contend with
25,000. Johnston set his engineer, Colonel Prestman, to
preparing a new line (the third before Marietta), the
famous one which included the crest of Kenesaw mount¬
ain. On the 1 8th there was heavy skirmishing while the
new line was being prepared. On that day six com¬
panies of the Sixty-third Georgia charged and retook
some abandoned rifle-pits, holding them all day against a
heavy fire of infantry and artillery, and suffering consid¬
erable loss.

On the 19th, the Confederate army took the new posi¬
tion, which in its full extent, including the thin lines of
cavalry on the flanks, formed a semi-circle about Marietta
on the west and north. Hood was massed on the north
between the railroad at the foot of Kenesaw and the
Canton road, Loring on the mountain, and Hardee south¬
ward between the branches of Nose’s creek. Of Loring’s

316

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

corps, Featherston’s division lay between the railroad
and eastern base of the mountain, Walthall and French
along the crest of the short ridge, French’s left reaching
its southwestern base. Walker’s division of Hardee’s
corps was next the mountain on the southwest, then
Bate, Cleburne and Cheatham in order. This was an
admirable position, with Kenesaw as a salient from
which all the movements of the enemy could be observed.
The Federals moved up close to the Confederate position,
intrenching as they advanced, and working south toward
the Chattahoochee past Hardee, who was held inactive by
high water in Nose’s creek. This made it necessary to
transfer Hood to the Confederate left, beyond Cheat¬
ham, on the Powder Spring road. During these move¬
ments for position, the same incessant skirmish firing
which characterized the campaign continued not only
throughout the day, but into the night, when the flash of
the guns in the woods had, it is said, the semblance of
“swarms of fireflies.’’ On the 20th, General Wheeler
repulsed an attack by Garrard on the right, and then
charging in turn routed the enemy with heavy loss, and
captured many prisoners. This was the most consider¬
able cavalry affair while Johnston had command of the
army. Wheeler was invincible, and he and Jackson
were indispensable to the operations of the infantry,
which, when necessary, they reinforced on foot.

The Confederates were not able to place many guns to
advantage on the precipitous heights of Big Kenesaw,
but on the lower hill General French planted nine can¬
non, which were dragged up by hand at night, the road
being commanded by Federal artillery. On the 2 2d a furi¬
ous fire was opened from these guns upon the Federals in
front and below, causing much confusion among them ;
and at night the cannonade was continued, presenting a
magnificent spectacle. Sherman concentrated, it is said,
over 100 guns against this battery, the terrific fire of
which cut down the trees on the summit of the mountain
and swept over the heights toward Marietta.

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

317

On the 22d of June, Hood, on the left, was involved in
a bloody fight with troops of Hooker and Schofield.
Hood reported that Hindman and Stevenson had been
attacked, while Sherman reported that Hood suddenly
sallied and opened the fight. It seems from the testi¬
mony of officers and men that the Confederates repulsed
an attack, and then, driving in the Federal advanced line,
attempted to capture some intrenched artillery on a hill.
In moving for that purpose they came under a destruc¬
tive fire of artillery, which compelled them to withdraw,
with the loss, says Johnston, of about 1,000 men. This
was known as the battle of Kolb’s Farm. On the 23d,
Sherman reported: “Our lines are now in close contact
and the fighting is incessant, with a good deal of artillery
fire. As fast as we gain one position, the enemy has
another ready.’’ On the 24th an unusually severe attack
was made upon the skirmishers of Hardee’s corps, who
unaided repelled the assault. The Second Georgia bat¬
talion of sharpshooters held the rifle-pits on Walker’s
front against furious and repeated attempts of the enemy.

It was at this stage of the fighting that Sherman deter¬
mined to try a direct front attack on Johnston’s line. He
says: “The enemy and our own officers had settled down
to a conviction that I would not assault fortified lines.
All looked to me to outflank. ’ ’ Consequently he gave the
order which caused the slaughter of his troops before
the impregnable defenses of Kenesaw. In the plan of
battle, McPherson was to attack near Little Kenesaw and
Thomas about a mile south. “On the 27 th of June,’’ says
Sherman, “the two assaults were made at the time and
in the manner prescribed, and both failed, costing us
many valuable lives, among them those of Generals
Harker and McCook, Colonel Rice and others badly
wounded, our aggregate loss being nearly 3,000, while
we inflicted comparatively little loss on the enemy, who
lay behind his well-formed breastworks.’’ Sherman
believed that by a sacrifice he could break the Confed-

318

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

erate line somewhere near the center, and, forcing in a
strong column, overwhelm half of Johnston’s army while
the other was held in check by the remainder of his.

The assault was made at 9 o’clock in the morning after
a furious cannonade, and amid a musketry fire which
extended along the whole front of ten miles. The brunt
of the attack by McPherson was borne by the right and
left of Loring’s corps, and the force of Thomas’ blow
mainly fell upon the left of Hardee. On the right, next
the railroad, the Twelfth Louisiana, deployed as skir¬
mishers, held its ground until the enemy was within
twenty-five paces, and then fell back to its brigade,
Scott’s of Featherston’s division. The Federal troops
in three lines, preceded by skirmishers, advanced
steadily and met the fire of Scott’s brigade and artillery
in the flank, and, unable to advance, halted and remained
under fire an hour before they would consent to fall back.
A single line of Federal infantry attacked Wheeler and
the skirmishers of Featherston’s, Adams’ and Quarles’
brigades, all in rifle-pits, and it also failed, although
a daring body of the enemy gained the rifle-pits in front
of Quarles, where most were killed or captured. In this
assault Logan lost seven regimental commanders.

The heaviest fighting was in front of Thomas, who sent
forward two columns — one, Newton’s division supported
by Stanley; the other, Davis’ division supported by
Baird. One of these attacks, near the southwest extrem¬
ity of Kenesaw, on the Burnt Hickory road, fell upon
Cockrell’s Missouri brigade on Loring’s left and on
Sears’ brigade, and was pressed through the skirmishers
of Walker’s right. Lieut. -Col. Robert A. Fulton, of the
Fifty-third Ohio infantry, says that the skirmishers
encountered by his regiment were from the Sixty-third
Georgia, and reports that his command had with them “a
hand-to-hand fight, in which bayonets and butts of mus¬
kets were used.” About 80 of these skirmishers were
killed, wounded or captured. Many of the wounds were

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

319

from bayonets. The Sixty-third had been thoroughly
drilled in the bayonet exercise, and they made splendid
use of their knowledge on this occasion. One little
Irishman encountered a tall, stout Federal soldier, who
seized his gun by the barrel. The two had quite a
struggle for the prize, when Pat, perceiving that the
Federal soldier was about to get the best of him, with
the exclamation, “To hell with you and the gun! ’’ gave
his opponent a sudden shove which threw him to the
ground, and then taking to his heels made his escape.
Lieutenant Polhill escaped capture by shooting one of his
enemies, bringing another down with his sword, and
thrusting a third out of his way. His clothing was
riddled, but he came off unscathed. On the evening
before, the Sixty-third regiment had been posted in the
rifle-pits, about 40 men of the “Oglethorpes” had been
kept in reserve in a little ravine, and when the skirmish
line was broken, next morning this reserve force charged
and retook the rifle-pits and fought from them until
Lieutenant McLaughlin gave the timely order for every
man to escape as best he could. In this charge and
retreat the company had 2 killed and 12 wounded (2
fatally), while 9 were cut off in an angle of the works and
captured. A little more than a third of them reached
unharmed the brow of the hill, along which the Sixty-
third halted and renewed the fight. This position was
held throughout the day, assisted by the furious fire
from French’s guns on Kenesaw, which stopped the
enemy before he reached Walker’s line of battle, and at
last drove him back to the edge of the woods. The
Sixty-third was complimented on the next day in general
orders by Gen. W. H. T. Walker. It is impossible to get
a statement of the losses of the entire regiment, but
Lieut. Walter A. Clark, of Augusta, who was at that time
orderly sergeant of Company A, and who still has in his
possession the roll of the company with full list of casual¬
ties, states that from Dalton to Jonesboro his company

320

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

lost io killed and mortally wounded, 29 wounded and 10
captured, 49 in all. Of this number, 14 were killed and
wounded, and 9 were captured in the battle of June 27th
at Kenesaw. Only half of the company present for duty
were in the skirmish line on the day of the battle. The
rest were with that part of the regiment which was on
Walker’s line of battle.

French’s artillery kept the enemy at bay south of the
road, but the main body pressed steadily on under fire
until checked by the steady courage of the Missourians
within twenty or thirty paces of their line. “The most
determined and powerful attack, ’’ according to General
Johnston, “fell upon Cheatham’s division and the left of
Cleburne’s.” It was here that Davis and Baird made
their effort, and lost, according to the report of General
Thomas, 1,580 killed, wounded and missing, some of the
men being shot while on the parapets of the Confeder¬
ate works. The close nature of the fighting was indi¬
cated by the fact that the Federals took 130 prisoners.
The deadliest place to the enemy was the salient on
Cheatham’s line, held by a portion of Maney’s brigade.
This was called the “dead angle” by the Federal sol¬
diers. Davis succeeded only in taking position and
intrenching about 75 yards from the Confederate works,
where he maintained himself against a midnight assault
on the 29th.

As has been quoted, Sherman gave his total loss in the
assault at about 3,000. Hardee’s corps lost 286 killed,
wounded and missing, mainly the latter; Loring’s corps,
236 killed, wounded and missing. The heaviest losses
were by the divisions of Cheatham and French.

Sherman, having made this failure in a direct attack, at
great cost to his army, resumed his flanking tactics,
ordering McPherson from the north front of Kenesaw to
extend Schofield’s line toward the Chattahoochee. Mc¬
Pherson began this movement on the night of July 2d,
and next morning Johnston abandoned Kenesaw mount-

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

321

ain for a line he had been preparing at Smyrna Station.
Thus ended the twenty-six days of fighting before Mari¬
etta, in which the total Confederate loss was 3,948.

When Johnston took this last position at Smyrna,
across the railroad, Gen. G. W. Smith’s division of
Georgia militia was ordered to support Jackson’s cav¬
alry on the left. Smith brought with him R. W. Ander¬
son’s battery of light artillery, and took position in the
open country until pushed back to the crest of Nickajack
ridge, about three miles north of Turner’s ferry. Sher¬
man followed the Confederates, and on the 4th of July
made what he called “a noisy but not desperate demon¬
stration” against the line at Smyrna, and another demon¬
stration against the position of the Georgia militia. Gen¬
eral Smith resisted the assault, but sent word that he
would retire at daylight unless his position must be held
as long as possible, and received in answer orders to
withdraw at dawn.

During the night, Johnston fell back from Smyrna and
took position in the line of redoubts, or tete-de-pont,
covering the railroad bridge over the Chattahoochee, the
cavalry being sent to the south bank of the river. The
Federal lines were now pushed forward cautiously, until
Johnston’s position was found to be impregnable, when
a flank movement to the left was ordered by Sherman, by
which Schofield successfully crossed the Chattahoochee
east of Smyrna, and made a strong lodgment. In the
same general movement, Garrard raided Roswell,
destroyed the factories there which had supplied much
cloth for the Confederate soldiers, and held the ford near
that place for the crossing of McPherson’s and part of
Thomas’ armies. These aggressive dispositions of Sher¬
man’s required Johnston to fall back beyond the Chatta¬
hoochee.

Johnston next occupied a line convex to the enemy,
behind Peachtree creek and Chattahoochee river. There
was comparative quiet until the 1 7th, except for the cav-

Ga 11

322

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

airy raid under Rousseau from Decatur, Ala., against the
railroad connecting Atlanta with the west, from Opelika
to West Point. On the 14th, a division of Federal cavalry
also crossed the Chattahoochee near Newnan, and was
bravely met and repelled by Armstrong’s brigade.
Meanwhile the work of strengthening and extending the
Confederate intrenchments about Atlanta was pushed
rapidly, until strong defensive lines protected the city
against assault.

On the 17th of July the Federal army began its advance
against Atlanta, and on the same day General Johnston
received a telegram from Adjutant-General Cooper,
relieving him of command, and ordering him to turn
over the same to Lieutenant-General Hood, temporarily
commissioned general. The cause assigned for this was
that Johnston had failed to arrest the advance of the
enemy to the vicinity of Atlanta, far in the interior of
Georgia, and expressed no confidence of ability to defeat
or repel him. General Johnston promptly replied that
the order was obeyed, and added :

As to the alleged cause of my removal, I assert that
Sherman’s army is much stronger compared with that of
Tennessee, than Grant’s compared with that of Northern
Virginia. Yet the enemy has been compelled to advance
much more slowly to the vicinity of Atlanta than to that
of Richmond and Petersburg; and penetrated much
deeper into Virginia than Georgia.

In turning over the command to General Hood, the late
commander explained the plans he had formed. He had
expected first to be afforded an opportunity to engage
the enemy on terms of advantage while the Federal
armies would be divided in crossing Peachtree creek. If
unsuccessful, he would fall back to the outer line of
intrenchments, close at hand, and hold them until the
10,000 State troops promised by Governor Brown were
all at hand, when this force of Georgians would be put in
the works and the three corps would sally out and attack

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

323

either flank of the Federal army as it approached. John¬
ston thought that success in any of these proposed attacks
would be very decisive against Sherman, while failure
would leave the Atlanta lines intact, which the army
could hold forever. One of the weak points in this cal¬
culation is pointed out by General Smith, who shows that
the Georgia reserves, old men and boys, were never
collected in such numbers as to swell his command to
5,000 men. It is not certain, therefore, that Johnston,
if left in command, could have followed his plans to the
letter.

The Federal army moved forward in a southeasterly
direction, bringing McPherson on the 18th to the Geor¬
gia railroad, several miles east of Decatur, where Gar¬
rard’s cavalry and M. L. Smith’s division broke up four
miles of the road. Schofield reached the town of Deca¬
tur. On the next day, McPherson moved west into
Decatur, and Schofield marched thence toward Atlanta
from the east. These movements were singularly dis¬
jointed and careless, for which the Federal chief engineer
gives the insufficient excuse: “We knew but little of
the country, and the inhabitants, always few in number
and indisposed to give us information, had all gone fur¬
ther south. Not an able-bodied man was to be found
between Marietta and the enemy’s line.’’

On the 19th, Thomas’ army still being north of
Atlanta, the head of Howard’s corps reached the Buck-
head bridge on Peachtree creek, protected on the south
side by an infantry work. During the afternoon Wood’s
division crossed below there and Stanley’s division
above, after stubborn fighting, and were moved eastward
to connect with Schofield, leaving Newton’s division at
the crossing place. Parts of Hooker’s and Palmer’s
corps also crossed, Palmer meeting with considerable
resistance. In these encounters Reynolds’ Confederate
brigade captured 150 prisoners and two flags.

On the 20th, Thomas was comparatively isolated, with

324

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

Hooker’s and Palmer’s corps and Newton’s division of
Howard’s, perhaps 30,000 to 35,000 men, partly north of
Peachtree creek. Hood embraced the opportunity to
strike with the two corps of Hardee and Stewart, and
ordered a carefully planned attack at 1 o’clock on the
20th. Hardee and Stewart were each to hold a division
in reserve, and move forward the other divisions, com¬
mencing on Hardee’s right, successively in echelon at
intervals of some 200 yards, to attack the enemy, drive
him back to the creek, and then press down the stream
to the west. Should the enemy be found intrenched, his
works were to be carried, everything on the south side of
the creek was to be taken, and crossing to the north
side was to depend on the success of the battle. This
well planned but hazardous assault failed by one of those
incidents which often occur in battle. It happened that
Cheatham was compelled to withdraw a division from
his left to meet Schofield, and Hardee and Stewart were
instructed to close to the right far enough to cover the
space vacated. At 1 o’clock Hardee began the change
eastward and found that Cheatham’s flank was two
miles distant, and Hood being in Atlanta, he felt im¬
pelled to strictly obey orders. Stewart, believing that
the change was not important, and that the attack should
be made at once, attempted to obtain orders from the
commanding general for immediate advance. “The
result was,’’ continues StewTart, “that to keep up con¬
nection with the other corps, my line moved fully a mile
and a half or two miles to the right, and my right divi¬
sion did not move forward following the one on its right
in the prescribed order until near 4 o’clock.’’ When the
forward movement finally began, Stewart sent into the
field the divisions of Loring on the right and Walthall in
the center; French, on the left, being held in supporting
distance.

Loring had but two brigades, Featherston’s and
Scott’s, numbering 2,700 men, and charged a ridge on

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

325

which the enemy had already begun earthworks. They
halted under fire to adjust their distance from Maney of
Hardee’s corps, who was advancing on their right, and
then sweeping on with a deafening yell planted their
colors on the breastworks at different places on a half
mile front. Scott’s Alabamians captured, lost and recap¬
tured a four-gun battery and the flag of a New Jersey
regiment, forcing the enemy back with the loss of some
prisoners and many killed and wounded. But a deadly
enfilading fire, made possible by want of adequate sup¬
port, soon compelled Featherston and Scott to fall back
to the cover of a ridge, where they kept up the fight till
dark. Loring’s other brigade, Adams’, then arrived, and
the division was ordered to fall back after removing the
greater number of its dead and wounded, which was
accomplished by 9 o’clock; but many brave men were
left in and before the Federal works. Featherston lost
616 killed, wounded and missing out of 1,230 first taken
into the fight, and the losses of Scott ran the total for
Loring’s division up to 1,062.

Walthall had a similar experience. Cantey’s brigade
on the right swept everything before it until it struck
the enemy’s works, when in emerging from the woods
and thickets it came under a flank fire, which caused the
brigade to retire ; but it was rallied and sent in again,
yet without success. It, however, captured 293 prison¬
ers, but lost 279 killed, wounded and missing. A portion
of the left of Reynolds’ brigade also entered the Federal
works, and here again an enfilading fire forced this bri¬
gade back, but it continued its attacks until dark, losing
67 out of 540 engaged.

At 4 o’clock Hardee advanced Bate on the right,
Walker in the center, Maney on the left, and Cleburne
in reserve. Bate had such a difficult task getting
through the thickets, and was so far to the east of
Thomas’ line, that his advance was not effective. Walker
struck the east flank of Newton’s position, where the

326

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

Federal line was partly intrenched with rails and logs,
and his vigorous assault soon alarmed Thomas, who,
being yet behind Peachtree creek, used his reserve bat¬
teries so effectively that he forced Walker back. Maney
and Cleburne were ordered to renew the assault in
Walker’s place, but the orders were withdrawn and the
contest abandoned. On the extreme left another divi¬
sion, French’s gallant men, had had no opportunity to
engage in the fight, except a little skirmishing.

Schofield’s army during this time had come up on the
northeast of the city, and though opposed by brisk skir¬
mishing, took position on the 21st near the Howard house
on the hills in that vicinity.

General Wheeler, meanwhile, was making a heroic
resistance against the advance of McPherson. The lat¬
ter, leaving a brigade of infantry at Decatur, and send¬
ing his cavalry on a raid to Covington, was slowly mov¬
ing toward Atlanta from the east. Wheeler’s men fought
dismounted “behind successive lines of breastworks,
inflicting heavy losses upon the enemy, and repulsing
several assaults of the skirmish lines, which were almost
dense enough to make them lines of battle and were
always strongly supported.’’ On the 19th and 20th he
was so strongly pressed as to be obliged to call for rein¬
forcements, but none could be spared him. Behind
Wheeler, occupying trenches north and south of the
Georgia railroad, supporting artillery, was Gen. G. W.
Smith with about 700 Georgia militia. Cleburne, who
had been withdrawn from Peachtree creek, reached Bald
hill on the morning of the 21st, and while he was occupy¬
ing Wheeler’s line, in order that the latter might extend to
the south, the divisions of Gresham and Leggett attacked.
On the right General Ferguson gave way in some con¬
fusion, exposing the right of Allen’s brigade, which, with
the Georgia brigade, nevertheless fought brilliantly,
repulsing a desperate assault by hand-to-hand fighting.
On the enemy’s second assault both the Georgia and Ala-

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

327

bama brigades, with the right brigade of Cleburne’s
division, were forced back, but rallying they charged
the enemy and retook the works, with over 20 prisoners.
“This was a most brilliant feat,’’ said Wheeler, “and the
Georgia brigade deserves great credit for its conduct on
that day.” Cleburne described this fight as “the bitter¬
est of his life. ’ ’ It ended with the two Federal divisions,
which constituted the Seventeenth or Blair’s corps,
about 8,000 strong, occupying Bald hill, where they
immediately intrenched as strongly as possible during
the night. Their loss for the day was 728 men.

McPherson, from the position he had now gained, in
sight of Atlanta and about two and a half miles from the
car-shed, observed that Hood was rapidly moving troops to
the south, and in his report that afternoon, the last of
his life, he warned Sherman that he had no cavalry on
his flank, and said: “The whole of the rebel army,
except Georgia militia, is not in front of Thomas.” On
that night McPherson’s army lay in a north and south
line, Blair’s corps in the extreme southern position just
described, with Smith’s (Gresham’s) division to the
south of Bald hill, his left refused along the McDonough
road; Dodge’s corps next north, across the railroad, and
Logan’s corps north of the railroad connecting with
Schofield.

“The position and demonstration of McPherson’s
army,” said Hood in his official report, “made it neces¬
sary to abandon Atlanta or check his movements.” On
the night of the 21st he ordered General Wright, in
charge of the defenses of the city, to be prepared for an
evacuation should it become necessary. In his report
he said:

Unwilling to abandon, the following instructions were
given on the morning of the 21st: The chief engineer
was instructed to select a line of defense immediately
about Atlanta, the works already constructed for the
place being wholly useless from their position; Stewart’s

328

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

and Cheatham’s corps to take position and construct
works to defend the city, the former on the left, the lat¬
ter on the right. The artillery, under the command of
Brigadier-General Shoup, was massed on the extreme
right (east). Hardee was ordered to move with his corps
daring the night of the 21st south on the McDonough
road, crossing Intrenchment creek at Cobb’s mills, and
to completely turn the left of McPherson’s army. This
he was to do, even if it became necessary to go to or
beyond Decatur. Wheeler with his cavalry was ordered
to move on Hardee’s right, both to attack at daylight or
as soon thereafter as possible. As soon as Hardee suc¬
ceeded in forcing back the enemy’s left, Cheatham was to
take up the movement from his right, and continue to
force the whole from right to left down Peachtree creek,
Stewart in like manner to engage the enemy as soon as
the movement became general.

Accordingly, on the morning of the 22d, the Federal
army found the intrenchments in their immediate front
empty and they advanced to occupy them.

Of McPherson’s army of the Tennessee, the Federal
force mainly engaged in the battle of the 2 2d, Logan’s
corps, stretched across the railroad, advanced into the
Confederate works, and began reversing them and plant¬
ing batteries. Blair held his position on and beyond Bald
hill, only advancing skirmishers and working parties.
One brigade of Dodge’s corps had been sent to his rear,
and in the morning Sweeny’s division of Dodge’s corps
had moved from the north of the railroad toward his
rear, for the purpose of relieving him on Bald hill, and
extending the line further south. This move was made
by a road nearly a mile in the rear of Blair, and about
noon Sweeny was to the right and left of a bend in the
road, the head of his column toward Blair. Blair’s south
flank was refused a little as if to connect with Sweeny,
but there was a great gap open. Thus it happened that
when Hardee arrived to make his attack in the rear, he
found himself faced by a Federal line entirely unconsid¬
ered in Hood’s plan, with only a gap in the line to his

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

329

advantage, and this was speedily filled in part by rein¬
forcements from Logan and Dodge.

Hardee’s troops gained the rear and flank of McPher¬
son unobserved, and were marching northward and
westward against the enemy when the divisions of Bate
and Walker encountered Sweeny’s division and a brigade
of Fuller’s division of Dodge’s corps, faced directly to
meet them. Fuller not only delivered a disconcerting fire,
but made a headlong charge, which resulted in the capture
of a considerable number of the Sixty-sixth Georgia,
including the colonel and adjutant. But though
momentarily checked by this unexpected line of battle,
the Confederates rallied and advanced again in repeated
assaults upon the enemy’s lines.

In one of these attacks, when the Confederate line was
broken by an enfilading fire, Maj.-Gen. W. H. T. Walker
rode out from the woods, and swinging his hat, cheered
his men forward, but in the next moment he was shot
from his horse. Here the slaughter was fearful, as
many as thirteen of Walker’s men being found dead in
one corner of a rail fence behind which they formed.
Soon after the death of Walker, Major-General McPher¬
son, the equal of Walker in courage, rode toward Blair’s
southernmost division, and was soon unexpectedly con¬
fronted by the Confederate line. Being called on to sur¬
render, he turned away, and fell dead under the volley
that immediately followed. The Confederates renewed
the fight from that direction, and though an Illinois regi¬
ment was able to rescue McPherson’s body, it was soon
driven pellmell from the woods. A Federal battery
coming through the woods to the assistance of Fuller
was captured near the place where McPherson fell.
Fuller’s men, though fiercely attacked, lay down behind
a ridge, and aided by artillery from their rear, managed
to hold their ground until withdrawn at night. Sweeny’s
division that day lost 208, and Fuller’s 653, killed,
wounded and missing.

Ga 42

330

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

Meanwhile the divisions of Cleburne and Maney struck
the left flank of Blair’s corps fronting west, and swinging
round through the wide gap to the southeast, occupied
the breastworks that Leggett and Smith had constructed
in their advance on Bald hill the previous day, and then
assailed the rear of those divisions. In this first impetu¬
ous assault the Sixteenth Iowa regiment, 245 men, on
the extreme left of the Federal line, was captured entire,
as well as a section of a battery.

The description by Gen. Frank P. Blair of the fight
that resulted, is as vivid a picture as can be obtained
from the official records, in the absence of reports from
Confederate commanders. He wrote :

If the enemy had concerted his attacks from front,
flank, and rear, so as to strike my line at the same mo¬
ment with his different lines of battle, it would have
been extremely difficult, if not impossible to hold our
ground, but this was not done, and as his first assault fell
upon our rear, both divisions took the opposite of the
breastworks. . . . The attack was renewed from the
same direction upon Leggett’s division. . . . This was
followed by an attack upon Smith’s division, which came
upon his flank and rear as his troops stood on the reverse
side of their works, with their backs to the city of At¬
lanta. Both brigades of this division were immediately
formed to meet this attack, at right angles with our works,
facing to the southwest, in the open field. . . . The third
attack made upon Leggett came from the direction of
Atlanta. A skirmish line, followed by a heavy force,
advanced from that direction with great impetuosity.
The division changed front and got on the east side of
the breastworks, . . . repulsing the enemy who rallied,
reformed their lines, and returned to the charge, but
were again repulsed. . . . About four o’clock in the
evening the enemy renewed their attack upon the divi¬
sion from the east side of the works, on what was origi¬
nally our rear. The men again jumped over the breast¬
works and received the assault. This attack is described
by General Smith and his officers as the most fierce and
persistent made upon them during the day. The enemy
approached under cover of the woods to within less than

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

331

forty or fifty yards without being perceived, and pressed
forward under a deadly fire from the entire division and
two regiments of Leggett’s division, up to the breast¬
works occupied by our troops, and until the men could
reach one another across them with their bayonets, and
the officers used their swords in hand-to-hand encounter.

. . . This assault lasted three-quarters of an hour. In a
short time the enemy again advanced from the direction
of Atlanta, and at the same time attacked from the flank
and rear, using grape and canister and heavy musketry,
rendering it necessary to abandon a large portion of the
works which had been held by the Fourth division and by
part of the Third division. A new line was now formed
facing south and extending east from the crest of Bald hill.

. . . These dispositions of the two divisions were made
under a heavy fire of musketry and artillery from the
advancing enemy, composed of fresh troops, selected
doubtless for the occasion. It was Cheatham’s division,
of Hardee’s corps, commanded by Brigadier-General
Maney. They made a determined and resolute attack,
advancing up to our breastworks on the crest of the hill,
planted their flags side by side with ours, and fought
hand to hand until it grew so dark that nothing could be
seen but the flash of the guns from the opposite side of the
same works. The enemy seemed determined to take the
hill, which was the key-point to the whole of the line, and
controlled, to a great extent, the position held by the
other corps.

About 3 p. m. Cheatham and G. W. Smith’s Georgia
State troops were ordered to attack the Federal position
from the Atlanta side.

The assault by Cheatham’s corps from the direction of
Atlanta fell in part upon the Federal position about Bald
hill, and with equal severity further north upon Logan’s
corps, then under Morgan L. Smith. A Federal division
on the north of the railroad in the old Confederate works
was driven back in confusion, and DeGress’ artillery bat¬
talion and other guns near the railroad were captured.
The Confederates turned the guns on the Federals now
attempting to rally in their former line. But Wood’s
division of Logan’s corps, and Mersey’s brigade, came

332

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

into the fight ; Sherman put in a cross-fire of cannon, a
dozen or more ; and after a terrific hand-to-hand struggle
the Confederates were compelled to abandon most of the
captured battery.

The fight here, one of the most famous incidents of the
Atlanta campaign, was maintained on the Confederate
side by Stovall’s brigade, commanded by Col. Abaa
Johnson, consisting of the Forty-second Georgia, Lieut. -
Col. L. P. Thomas; First State troops, Col. John Brown
(mortally wounded), Lieut. -Col. Albert Howell; Forty-
third, Colonel Kellogg; Fifty-second, Capt. R. R.
Asbury; Forty-first, Maj. M. S. Nall; Fortieth, Captain
Dobbs. The Forty-second regiment had the honor of
capturing a number of guns supposed to be part of the
DeGress battery; the First regiment captured the line in
its front with two guns, and the remaining regiments
took the Federal lines up to a point near Bald hill. In
the same fight Manigault’s South Carolina brigade
bravely participated, capturing the guns of DeGress’ bat¬
tery on the north side of the Georgia railroad.*

At the time of Cheatham’s advance the Georgia State
troops under General Smith moved from their works
more than a mile against the enemy’s works, and sup¬
porting Anderson’s battery took position 400 yards from
the Federals, silencing the effective fire from an
embrasure battery in their front. Though eager to

*The location of these guns was described as follows by the
adjutant-general of M. L. Smith’s division (Official Records, serial
No. 74, p. 189) : “Friday, July 22d — pushed forward and occu¬
pied [Confederate] works with our main line at 6:30 a. m., the First
brigade on the left and Second brigade on the right [north] of
the railroad. The skirmish line was pushed forward, supported by
a section of Battery A, First Illinois light artillery. Then the works
were reversed, and Battery A, First Illinois light artillery, placed
in position, two guns on the right and two on the left of the railroad,
which at that place runs through a deep cut, and Battery H
[DeGress’] of the same regiment, on the extreme right [north] of the
line.’’ The attack of Clayton’s division (Stewart’s corps), which
included Stovall's brigade, was made on the left, or north, of Hind¬
man’s division (Cheatham’s corps), which included Manigault’s
brigade. The captors of Battery A withdrew four of its six guns.

!|§|

IV ">*

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

333

charge, there was no opportunity for effective work in
that way, and they held their position two hours, losing
about 50 killed and wounded.

About the time that Hardee attacked, Gen. Joseph
Wheeler made one of his irresistible assaults upon the
Federal intrenched force at Decatur and carried the line,
capturing about 225 prisoners, a large number of small-
arms, one gun and a few wagons, but was prevented from
destroying a large part of the Federal wagon trains by
being urgently called to the support of Hardee.

The battle closed with Hardee and Cheatham in pos¬
session of part of the Federal line. Logan’s division
had been pushed back on the right of the army of Ten¬
nessee, and about half a mile of its left had been bent
back at right angles. But the center held fast, and the
position finally taken, it would have been a waste of men
to attack. Besides, the armies of Thomas and Slocum,
further to the north, had not been engaged except in
skirmishing with Stewart.

Hardee bore off as trophies eight guns and thirteen
stand of colors, and remained in the presence of the
enemy, while Cheatham captured five guns and five or
six stand of colors. Hood claimed that the partial suc¬
cess was productive of much benefit to the army,
improving the morale, infusing new life and fresh hopes,
arresting desertion, defeating the flank movement to the
southeast, and “demonstrating to the foe our determi¬
nation to abandon no more territory without at least a
manful effort to retain it.’’

Bragg telegraphed President Davis, “The moral effect
of the brilliant affair of the 22d is admirable on our
troops, and I am happy to say our loss was small in
comparison to the enemy’s. He was badly defeated and
completely foiled in one of his bold flank movements,
heretofore so successful.’’ Gen. R. E. Lee, informed
that it was a great victory, expressed the hope that lines
of communication would now be opened for bringing
supplies to Richmond.

334

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

Full Confederate returns of casualties are not available,
but from such as can be had, it appears that Walker’s
division lost heavily, in consequence of which the rem¬
nants of its brigades were assigned to other divisions.
Lowrey’s brigade, Cleburne’s division, lost 578; Govan’s
brigade, 772 strong, which reported the capture of 700
prisoners and eight guns, also reported a loss of 408 killed
and wounded and 91 missing, including many officers;
J. A. Smith’s brigade lost 198, including Col. R. Q. Mills
wounded; Mercer’s Georgia brigade lost 168; one regi¬
ment of Manigault’s brigade lost 97. This is over 1,500
from a small part of the forces engaged.

Logan reported the capture of 18 stand of colors, some¬
thing over 5,000 stand of small-arms, and, in addition
to a large number of wounded left on the field, including
33 officers of rank, 1,017 prisoners; and that his three
corps had buried and delivered under flag of truce 1,822
dead, with many remaining unburied. His loss was 430
killed, 1,559 wounded, and 1,733 missing; aggregate,
3,722. After destroying the railroad from Decatur, Logan
intrenched a line to the north of the same, and then
entirely abandoning the position he had fought upon,
withdrew on the night of the 26th to the northwest of
Atlanta, where he was relieved by General Howard.

General Wheeler with his cavalry relieved General
Hardee’s line on the morning of the 27th, and at the
same time discovered the withdrawal of Logan, and was
informed that Federal cavalry had started on a raid south
from the east side of the city. He pursued vigorously,
got ahead of them on the road to Jonesboro, and drove
back a column under Garrard. Then learning that a
heavier column under Stoneman had started for Coving¬
ton, about 50 miles southeast of Atlanta, with the
reported intention of continuing toward Macon, while a
simultaneous raid was made from the west flank of the
Federal army, he sent General Iverson, with his own
Georgia brigade and the brigades of General Allen and

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY. 335

Col. W. C. P. Breckinridge, to take care of Stoneman.
Wheeler himself went to Jonesboro with Ashby’s
(Humes’) brigade to reinforce W. H. Jackson, ordering
Anderson’s brigade to follow, and Dibrell to remain to
hold Garrard in check. In the midst of these cavalry ma¬
neuvers which engaged the attention of Wheeler and Jack-
son, Sherman began his movement by the west flank to
destroy the two remaining railroads, running south and
west via West Point and Macon, which connected Atlanta
with the outside country. He had in use the Western &
Atlantic, which he had put in running order to Chatta¬
nooga and protected by garrisons at various points; and
held the line of the Georgia railroad east by strong
intrenchments on his right flank.

Bragg had organized cavalry movements to protect the
West Point railroad in Alabama, and Gen. Stephen D. Lee
— who had won distinction by the repulse of Sherman
before Vicksburg, had been surrendered there over his
protest, and had since been active in command of cav¬
alry in Mississippi and Alabama — was promoted to lieu¬
tenant-general and assigned to the command of Hood’s
corps, in the interim under Cheatham, who now
resumed command of his gallant division of Hardee’s
corps. Lee went on duty on the 26th, and with his corps
held the west flank of the Confederate line south of Proc¬
tor’s creek, where Howard was now stationed. On the
next day he was advised to prepare for a forward move¬
ment of the enemy against his position.

Howard pushed on southwest, parallel to the single
line by which the West Point and Macon roads enter the
city. On the 27th, Dodge, skirmishing briskly, took a
line below Proctor’s creek, facing the Confederate works
around the city; Blair formed south of him, and Logan
was near the line of the Lickskillet road, facing south,
prepared to advance to take the road next day. Near
noon on the 28th, Hood, having been informed of the
aggressive movements by Jackson, sent orders to Lee if

336

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

the enemy should make an assault upon the left to
strike him in flank, and Hardee was informed that Lee
was directed to prevent the enemy from gaining the
Lickskillet road, and not to attack until the enemy
exposed himself. Hood in his official report stated that
General Lee was ordered “to so move his forces as to
prevent the enemy from gaining that road. He was
ordered to hold the enemy in check on a line nearly par¬
allel with the Lickskillet road, running through to Ezra
church. General Lee, finding that the enemy had already
gained that position, engaged him with the intention to
recover it. This brought on the battle of the 28th. Gen¬
eral Stewart was ordered to support General Lee. The
engagement continued until dark.’’

General Lee reported that, having moved out on the
road named, he “soon found that the enemy had gained
the road, and was gradually driving back our cavalry.
Brown’s division [formerly Hindman’s, later Patton
Anderson’s] was at once formed on the left of and
oblique to the road, with Clayton’s division on the right,
connecting by a line of skirmishers with the main works
around the city. As soon as Brown was formed he
moved forward, handsomely driving the enemy across
the road and to a distance half a mile beyond, where he
encountered temporary breastworks, from which he was
driven back with considerable loss. Clayton’s division
[formerly Stewart’s] moved forward as soon as formed,
about ten minutes after Brown’s advance, and met with
similar results. I found it difficult to rally Brown’s
division and move it against the enemy a second time.
The consequence was that one or two brigades of this
division, as also of Clayton’s division, sustained heavy
losses because of the failure in the attack of portions of
their lines. Walthall’s division of Stewart’s corps had
moved out on the Lickskillet road, while Brown’s and
Clayton’s divisions were engaging the enemy. At my
suggestion this division was thrown against the enemy

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

337

where Brown had attacked. The enemy was still within
easy range of the Lickskillet road, and I believed that he
would yield before a vigorous attack. The effort, how¬
ever, proved a failure ; the troops were formed on the
road, and during the night were withdrawn by order of
the commanding general to a more suitable position,
connecting with the works immediately around Atlanta.
The enemy had two corps engaged in this affair ; still, I
am convinced that if all the troops had displayed equal
spirit, we would have been successful, as the enemy’s
works were slight, and besides they had scarcely got
into position when we made the attack. ’ ’

This attack in succession by the divisions of Brown,
Clayton and Walthall, which constituted the battle of
Ezra Church, July 28th, was borne by Logan’s three
divisions, reinforced at critical moments by four regi¬
ments from Blair and Dodge. Other reinforcements by
Palmer were held in check by Jackson’s cavalry. The
Federal force engaged was at least 10,000. Logan
reported: “Just as my command had gained the ridge
upon which was situated Ezra chapel, the enemy sud¬
denly and with the greatest fury assaulted the right
[west] and center of my line. The troops had not had
a moment to construct even the rudest defenses. The
position we occupied, however, at the moment of
attack, was one of the most favorable that could have
been chosen by us, it being on the crest of a continuous
ridge, in front of the greatest portion of which a good and
extensive fire line was opened.’’ Logan testified that
the Confederates moved forward rapidly and in good
order, and with evident confidence, but were repulsed
after an hour of terrific fighting. Another desperate
assault was made, and repeated four successive times.
“During temporary lulls in the fighting, which did not at
any time exceed from three to five minutes, the men would
bring together logs and sticks to shield themselves from
the bullets of the enemy in the next assault. The

Ga '43

338

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

engagement lasted from 11:30 a. m. until darkness com¬
pelled a cessation. My losses were 50 killed, 439
wounded and 73 missing, aggregate 562.” He further
reported that he had captured five battleflags, 106 pris¬
oners, mostly wounded, 1,500 to 2,000 muskets, and that
over 600 Confederates were found buried in his front.

According to Gen. John C. Brown’s report, his division,
consisting of the brigades of Johnston (formerly Deas’),
Brantley and Sharp, with Manigault in reserve, met
Logan advancing toward the road and drove him back
500 to 600 yards to intrenchments which the Confeder¬
ates did not observe in the thick woods until they were
upon them. “In many places the works were carried,
but the enemy reinforced them so rapidly and with such
an immensely superior force that my troops were driven
with great slaughter from them. Brig. -Gen. George D.
J ohnston was severely wounded in the first onset ; Col¬
onel Coltart, who succeeded him, was also wounded in a
few minutes, and his successor, Colonel Hart, was also
struck down.” Rallying the division, Brown was soon
compelled to fall back before the advance of the Fed-
erals. The loss of the division was hi killed, 583
wounded and 113 missing, total 807.

Clayton’s division, unfortunately, through a confusion
of orders, attacked consecutively by brigades, on the
right, against the angle at Logan’s left — first Gibson’s
brigade, then Baker’s, both of which were repulsed with
loss of half their numbers, including a number of gallant
officers. Walthall, with the divisions of Reynolds and
Cantey, attacked with great vigor and persistence, and lost
152 officers and nearly 1,000 men, considerably more than
a third of his strength, without gaining any advantage.
Quarles’ brigade, his reserve, sent in next to Lee, lost
514, including all the regimental commanders but one.
Twenty -nine line officers were killed or wounded. Rey¬
nolds reported a loss of 167 killed and wounded out of
about 400 in action; Gholson’s brigade, attached to Rey-

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

339

nolds, lost 144 out of 450, and Youngblood’s Georgia bat¬
talion, from Augusta, lost 9 out of 150.

Loring’s division, of Stewart’s corps, took position
along the Lickskillet road and held that line on the left
of Lee after Walthall was withdrawn. Here General
Loring and General Stewart were both wounded. On
the previous day Brigadier-General Ector, while in the
works about Atlanta, was so severely wounded by a
fragment of shell as to cause the amputation of his left
leg. This bloody battle of July 28th, which might have
been successful if fought as planned, but instead, on
account of the aggressiveness of Howard’s advance, was
fought by brigades and divisions in detail, was the last
outside the Confederate works at Atlanta. Following it
the Federals pushed forward cautiously with frequent
severe fights on the skirmish lines, while Lee with Bate’s
division, replacing Stevenson’s temporarily, ran out a
line of intrenchments along the Sandtown road to the
southwest, covering the single line of railroad upon which
the West Point and Macon traffic entered the city.

Meanwhile the two great cavalry raids of the Federals,
one under General McCook down the right bank of the
Chattahoochee and thence across the West Point road to
the Macon road below Jonesboro, and the second under
General Stoneman from the east flank of the Federal
army toward the railroad from Macon east to Augusta,
were well under way. Nearly 10,000 cavalry were in
these two formidable columns, but the genius of Wheeler
and Jackson was equal to the emergency. McCook
crossed the Chattahoochee near Campbellton, pushing
back Harrison’s cavalry brigade, and rode rapidly to
Lovejoy’s Station south of Jonesboro, destroying mules,
wagons, live stock and provisions as he went, and, reach¬
ing the railroad, destroyed a portion of the track and
some rolling stock. Ross’ brigade, called from the
Lickskillet road during the fight of the 28th, made a hot
pursuit, and with Harrison attacked McCook near Love-

340

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

joy’s. McCook then started back toward Newnan, leav¬
ing 20 dead and wounded and 50 prisoners on Ross’
hands, and taking 300 Confederate prisoners. Wheeler,
reaching Jonesboro with Ashby’s brigade, pushed on all
night of the 29th, and with 400 men attacked the Fed¬
eral rear guard in the small hours of the 30th at Line
creek, where the bridge had been destroyed. After a
stubborn fight the enemy was dislodged from barricades
commanding the passage, and a bridge was constructed
over which Wheeler passed, and continued his headlong
pursuit though frequently encountering barricades and
volleys from the enemy in the intense darkness. Finally,
with the single small brigade with which he started,
Wheeler found the enemy in force and attacked, routing
McCook and capturing 200 prisoners and horses, with a
loss to the enemy of more than 40 killed. Not satisfied,
he kept pushing McCook’s rear guard, capturing 20 more
prisoners near Newnan, on the West Point railroad. At
Newnan, McCook cut the West Point railroad in three
places, but the halt was fatal. Wheeler, reinforced by
part of Cook’s regiment and two regiments under Gen¬
eral Ross, increasing his force to 700 men, sent one col¬
umn under Colonel Ashby to cut off McCook’s retreat,
while he struck him in flank. The result was that
McCook conceived that he was surrounded by “an over¬
whelming force of the enemy’s cavalry, supported by a
large infantry force.’’ The assaults of Wheeler and
Ashby were irresistible, and a large part of the Federal
force retreated in great confusion. But another part
swept over Ross’ dismounted men, capturing a number
of men and horses; and at the same time Wheeler’s com¬
mand was attacked and repelled in confusion. The blow
was returned successfully and Ross’ loss was retrieved.
The fight had lasted two hours and Wheeler had gained
the Federal position and 400 prisoners, including three
brigade commanders. General Anderson’s brigade now
came up, 400 strong, and while going into position

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

341

Anderson was wounded. Soon afterward Roddey
brought up 600 men. The enemy had taken a strong
position in the edge of a wood behind a ravine, but
Wheeler flanked them out and then pressed them on the
retreat, cutting off and capturing two nearly entire regi¬
ments, with all their artillery and wagons. The pursuit
continued for nearly four miles, during which many
more prisoners were taken and the Confederate prisoners
were recaptured. On the next day, 200 or 300 scattered
Federals were gathered up in the woods. The remainder
of the Federals in two columns managed to make their
escape across the Chattahoochee near Franklin. Wheeler
pursued beyond the river next day, and well nigh com¬
pleted the entire destruction of McCook’s cavalry com¬
mand.

The expedition under Stoneman met the same fate.
Gen. Howell Cobb reported from Macon, August 1st:
“General Stoneman, with a cavalr)’ force estimated at
2,800 with artillery, was met two miles from this city by
our forces, composed of Georgia reserves, citizens, local
companies and the militia which Governor Brown is
organizing here. The enemy’s assault was repulsed and
his force held in check along our entire line all day.
Retiring toward Clinton he was attacked the next morn¬
ing by General Iverson, who, having routed the main
body, captured General Stoneman and 500 prisoners. His
men are still capturing stragglers. ” Stoneman was
expected to perform the task, self-solicited, of going as
far as Andersonville and releasing the 34,000 Federal
prisoners there, but utterly failed in that, although he
burned the railroad bridges at Walnut creek and Oconee
and damaged the railroad. Sherman reported:

He seems to have become hemmed in, and gave consent
to two-thirds of his force to escape back, while he held
the enemy in check with the remainder, about 700
men and a section. of light guns. One brigade, com¬
manded by Colonel Adams, came in almost intact;

342

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

another, Capron’s, was surprised on the way back and
scattered. Many were captured and killed, and the bal¬
ance got in mostly unarmed and on foot, and the general
himself surrendered his small command and is now a
prisoner in Macon.

During the month following the battle of Ezra Church,
Sherman, continuing to hold the intrenched position
from the Georgia railroad east of the city round by the
north to the Lickskillet road on the west, a full half
circle, kept up a continual fire on the Confederate
intrenchments. Pushing on slowly toward the south¬
west, Schofield’s army of the Ohio was sent to the south
of Howard. Schofield moved August ist, and Palmer’s
corps of Thomas’ army followed at once, taking a line
below Utoy creek, and Schofield prolonged it nearly to
East Point, the junction of the Macon and West Point
railroads. To meet these movements General Hood was
compelled to stretch out his line to a length of fifteen
miles. Both Federal and Confederate positions were
instantly intrenched or protected by rail or log piles as
they were taken, and the deadly skirmish firing was con¬
tinuous. On August 6th a fierce attack was made from
Schofield’s command upon the intrenched line of Gen¬
eral Bate on the Sandtown road, which was repulsed
with heavy Federal loss. Said General Lee :

Much credit is due General Bate and his division for
their conduct. The enemy was exceedingly cautious in
his movements after this affair. His extension to our
left was gradual, and he seemed determined to push his
lines more closely to ours in my front, with the view of
making an assault. The skirmishing along Patton
Anderson’s and Clayton’s divisions amounted almost to
an engagement for a week.

Finally Hardee’s corps was withdrawn from Atlanta
and extended to the south of Lee, leaving to the Georgia
State troops still greater responsibility on the main lines
of fortifications. Though poorly armed, two-thirds of
them without cartridge boxes, these heroic men per-

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

343

formed every service required of them. Immediately
after the battle of the 2 2d they had been ordered to Pop¬
lar Springs, and soon afterward to the trenches on the
west of the Marietta road. From that time until the
close of the siege they were under close fire, night and
day, and moving from one station to another had their
full share of all the hardest places, from the Marietta
road to the extreme right.

Sherman, finding that he could not push his lines closer
immediately south of Atlanta, determined to move his
whole army further south, beyond the stretching capacity
of Hood’s army, and ride over opposition by sheer force
of concentrated strength. But before beginning he
ordered down from Chattanooga four 4^ -inch rifled guns
to try on the city. They were put to work night and day,
and he observed that they “caused frequent fires and
created confusion, yet the enemy seemed determined to
hold his forts even if the city was destroyed.” During
this furious cannonade, we are told by General Hood,
“women and children fled into cellars, and were forced to
seek shelter a greater length of time than at any period
of the bombardment,” which continued from the 9th to
the 25th of August. “It was painful,” continued Hood,
“yet strange, to mark how expert grew the old men,
women and children in building their little underground
forts, into which to fly for safety during the storm of shell
and shot. Often amid the darkness of night they were
constrained to seek safety in these dungeons beneath the
earth. Albeit, I cannot recall one word from their lips
expressive of dissatisfaction or willingness to surrender. ”

On the 1 6th of August, Sherman issued his orders pre¬
paratory to the grand movement by the right flank, to
begin on the 18th. In the meantime General Wheeler
had been ordered to move upon the Federal communica¬
tions; destroy them at various points between Marietta
and Chattanooga; then cross the Tennessee river and
break the lines of the two railroads running to Nashville ;

344

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY,

leave 1,200 men to operate on those roads; return and
again strike the railroad south of Chattanooga and rejoin
the army. This long-desired and long-delayed movement
could not have been intrusted to a better leader.

Though his men were much worn and his horses were
suffering from scarcity of forage, Wheeler started August
10th with 4,000 troopers, and first tore up the railroad
above Marietta, next near Cassville, and then near Cal¬
houn. At the latter place Hannon’s brigade captured x, 700
head of beef cattle, a number of prisoners, wagons and
horses, with which he returned in safety to the army,
though pursued by a superior force of Federal cavalry.
On August 14th Humes’ and Kelly’s commands attacked
and captured Dalton, with a large amount of stores and
government property, their trains, 200 horses and mules
and 200 prisoners, the balance of the garrison being driven
from the town to a strong fortification near at hand. A
blockhouse and water-tank were destroyed south of town,
and the railroad track torn up for a considerable dis¬
tance. On the following day Wheeler was attacked in the
absence of Martin’s division by infantry and cavalry
under General Steedman, and the enemy suffered con¬
siderable loss, including General Steedman slightly
wounded and one colonel killed. Williams’ brigade
destroyed the road at various points between Tunnel Hill
and Graysville, and the enemy were kept from making
any repairs until August 20th, when Wheeler pushed on
into Tennessee with his main force. But he left 200
picked men to raid the railroad every night at several
places, and they succeeded in running off twenty trains
during his absence. In Tennessee, Wheeler destroyed
the railroad from Cleveland to Charleston, crossed the
Hiwassee and captured Athens with a large quantity of
valuable supplies, and tore up the railroad from Charles¬
ton to Loudon, all the time being harassed by the Fed¬
eral cavalry, who, however, were not able during his
whole expedition to capture one of his men or take any

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

345

property from him. High water compelled him to cross
Holston and French Broad above Knoxville, fighting
each time for the right of way and defeating a column of
cavalry from Knoxville. General Williams was here
detached for a side expedition, and Wheeler kept on with
a depleted force. He went on nearly to Nashville and
thence south to Alabama, repulsing the attacks of
Major-Generals Rousseau, Steedman and Brigadier-Gen¬
erals Croxton and Granger, near Nashville and at Frank¬
lin, Lynnville, Campbellville and other points; captur¬
ing McMinnville and other depots, burning stores of sup¬
plies, destroying bridges and burning trains, and so thor¬
oughly tearing up the Nashville & Decatur railroad that
it was never completely repaired by the enemy. His
entire loss in the expedition was 150 killed, wounded and
missing, while he brought out more than 2,000 recruits
and 800 absentees. In the battle of Franklin, September
2d, the gallant General Kelly was killed and Colonel
Hobson was badly wounded.

Sherman, relieved by Wheeler’s absence, suspended
his contemplated infantry movement in order to send
General Kilpatrick with 5,000 cavalry to move from
Sandtown and break the West Point and Macon roads.
Kilpatrick succeeded on the first road, and brushing
Ross away after skirmishing at Camp creek, Red Oak,
Flint river and Jonesboro, held the Macon road for five
hours and did it some damage, but was soon driven away,
a detachment of infantry being sent down by rail to
co-operate with Jackson’s cavalry, and was repulsed
again at Lovejoy’s Station, July 20th. Kilpatrick then
continued around Atlanta to the east. Sherman was not
satisfied with this, and renewed his order for a general
movement, to begin on the 26th. The sick and surplus
wagons and incumbrances were sent back to the Chatta¬
hoochee. Stanley’s corps abandoned the works on the
east and marched around south of Proctor’s creek. The
Twentieth corps, General Slocum, fell back to the Chat-

Ga 44

346

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

tahoochee. The movement continued on the night fol¬
lowing, Howard moving out by a long circuit well back
toward the river and thence to the West Point railroad
near Fairburn, while Thomas closed up on the railroad
about Red Oak, and Schofield was near by. Then, says
Sherman, “I ordered one day’s work to be expended in
destroying that road, and it was done with a will. Twelve
and a half miles were destroyed, the ties burned, and
iron rails heated and twisted by the utmost ingenuity of
old hands at the work. Several cuts were filled up with
trunks of trees, logs, rocks and earth, intermingled with
loaded shells prepared as torpedoes to explode in case of
an attempt to clear them out.” “Having personally
inspected this work, and satisfied with its execution, ’ ’ he
ordered his whole force, now almost entirely south of the
Confederate line of intrenchments, forward to the Macon
railroad, Howard farthest toward Jonesboro, Thomas to
Couch’s and Schofield on the north flank to Morrow’s
mills. This meant a new battle line extending from
Rough and Ready to Jonesboro, and gave Sherman the
interior lines.

Meanwhile the attention of Hood had been arrested on
the 24th by a cavalry raid to tear up the Georgia railroad
toward Stone mountain. On the 25th it was noticed
that the enemy’s batteries were silent and embrasures
were filled with brush in front of French’s division. At
an early hour on the 26th, the scouts brought in word that
the Federals were leaving their works, even falling back
to the river — had Wheeler caused this? Then Stewart
and Lee marched out and occupied the deserted works.
Some prisoners were brought in, but none of them
would give any information. The only hostile force at
hand was in front of a part of Hardee’s line. The pre¬
vailing impression was that Sherman was falling back
across the Chattahoochee. The mournful news arrived
of the surrender of Fort Morgan, Mobile harbor. On
the 27th still no knowledge of what the enemy was really

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

347

doing, but the prisoners brought in said that Sherman
intended to retreat to Chattanooga. Orders were issued to
the cavalry officers to be on the alert and obtain informa¬
tion. G. W. Smith’s division was sent to the left flank,
where Stevenson was, and the latter was to hold himself
in readiness at a moment’s notice. General Maney was
also ordered to be ready for instant action. At last, on
the 28th, came news that quite a large force of the enemy
had appeared at Fairburn, and that Generals Armstrong
and Ross had been skirmishing with them. General
Morgan was ordered to report to General Jackson at East
Point. Adjutant-General Wayne was ordered to arm
and send the militia up as rapidly as possible. The
enemy seemed to be moving down the river, their
wagons on the opposite side. Yet another day, the 29th,
passed without appreciation of Sherman’s tactics, though
it was known that a considerable Federal force was mov¬
ing toward the Macon railroad. The general command¬
ing believed that he had taken all necessary precautions.
General Adams at Opelika, Ala. , was warned of danger ;
General Hardee, at East Point, was instructed to act on
his own discretion, and Generals Lee and Armstrong
were both asked to find out where the enemy was. Yet
during this day (29th) the armies of Schofield and
Thomas took their designated positions on the line
selected by Sherman, and Howard going still further,
drove away the plucky Confederate cavalry and artillery
at Shoal creek, saved the Flint river bridge, and on the
night of August 30th took and began intrenching a posi¬
tion a half mile from Jonesboro. On the same night
Hood called his corps commanders in consultation, and
finally determined to send Hardee’s and Lee’s corps,
under Hardee, that night to Jonesboro to drive the Fed-
erals across Flint river. “This, I hoped,” Hood says in
his report of February, 1865. “would draw the attention
of the enemy in that direction, and that he would aban¬
don his works on the left, so that I could attack him in

348

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

flank. I remained with Stewart’s corps and the militia
in Atlanta. ’ ’

Hardee immediately put his corps in motion, under the
gallant Cleburne, but of course he was too late. Hardee
in person reached Jonesboro by rail from Atlanta by day¬
light, but his corps encountered the enemy in force on
the road it was instructed to take, and was compelled to
open another road, so that it was 9 a. m. of the 31st
before it was in position before Jonesboro. Lee came
soon afterward, except three brigades left on picket,
which arrived at 1 130 p. m. Early in the day Hardee
foresaw that the contemplated attack could not be made
until afternoon, and as he reported, “I telegraphed these
facts to General Hood, and urged him to come to Jones¬
boro and take command. Communication with Atlanta
by rail was then still open, but he did not come.” His
report continues:

As soon as the lines could be adjusted, I ordered the
attack. Lee’s corps was on the right. Cleburne, on the
left, had orders to turn the enemy’s right flank, and Lee
to begin the attack on our right when he heard Cle¬
burne’s guns. Lee, mistaking the guns of Cleburne’s
skirmishers for the main attack, began the movement
before Cleburne became seriously engaged. He encoun¬
tered formidable breastworks which he was unable to
carry, and after considerable loss was driven back in con¬
fusion. Cleburne had carried the temporary works of
the enemy, and a portion of his command had crossed
Flint river and captured two pieces of artillery, which he
was unable, however, to bring over the river. Immedi¬
ately after this I was informed by another staff officer
that the enemy were preparing to attack Lee. In view
of the demoralized condition of Lee’s troops, as reported
by the same officer, I withdrew a division from Cleburne
to support Lee. It now became necessary for me to act
on the defensive, and I ordered Cleburne to make no
more attempts on the enemy’s works. It is proper to
state that the enemy were strongly intrenched and had
one flank resting on Flint river and both well protected
The fortifications were erected during the day and night
preceding the attack and were formidable.

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

349

In his report General Lee stated that he delayed his
attack after he heard firing on Cleburne’s line, until the
right division of Hardee’s corps became engaged, when,
being satisfied that the battle had begun in earnest, he
ordered his corps forward. “The attack was not made
by the troops with that spirit and inflexible determina¬
tion that would insure success,” although several brigades
behaved with great gallantry. “The attack was a feeble
one and a failure, with a loss to my corps of about 1,300
men in killed and wounded. ’ ’ Among the wounded of
the army were Gens. Patton Anderson and Cumming.

Hardee at this time learned the real disposition of
Sherman’s army from a captured officer of Howard’s
staff. On the following night he received an order from
Hood to return Lee’s corps to Atlanta, also Reynolds’
brigade, and a brigade or so of his own, if possible, and
with the remainder and Jackson’s cavalry protect Macon
and the communications in rear. “There are some indi¬
cations,’’ said Hood, “that the enemy may make an
attempt upon Atlanta to-morrow. ’’ The latter apprehen¬
sion was due to the fact that Slocum had been ordered to
advance from the Chattahoochee on a reconnoissance.
General Hardee remarks in this connection that General
Hood, “with a marvelous want of information,’’ evi¬
dently still believed the enemy to be in front of Atlanta.

At 4 p. m. on the 31st, Sherman was informed that
Howard had repulsed the attack at Jonesboro, that
Schofield had reached the railroad near Rough and
Ready, and was working up the road, destroying it as he
went, and Stanley and Baird were similarly occupied
working south. He at once ordered the whole army to
turn toward Jonesboro and envelop Hardee. On the fol¬
lowing morning, September 1st, says Hardee, “Hood was
at Atlanta with Stewart’s corps and the Georgia militia;
my corps was at Jonesboro, and Lee’s corps was half¬
way between, in supporting distance of neither.’’ Har¬
dee did not have a strong position and had little time to

850

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY,

intrench, but considered it absolutely necessary to hold it
long enough to insure the evacuation of Atlanta, which
he saw was necessary. To add to his embarrassment, he
was encumbered with the immense subsistence and
ordnance trains of the army, which had been sent to
Jonesboro for safety, because the absence of Wheeler
made it necessary to guard them with infantry. He was
evidently justified in saying, “If the enemy had crushed
my corps, or even driven it from its position at Jones¬
boro on the i st of September, no organized body of the
other two corps could have escaped destruction.’’

Fortunately, only Davis’ corps, formerly Palmer’s, was
able to unite with Howard and Kilpatrick in time.
About 4 p. m. of the ist, Davis assaulted Hardee’s posi¬
tion from the north, but as Hardee reports, “through the
splendid gallantry of the troops the position was held
against fierce and repeated assaults.’’ At night Hardee
fell back to Lovejoy’s Station. Davis reported that he
finally carried the Confederate line after “very heavy
fighting, ’’ in which he lost 222 killed, 945 wounded and
105 missing, and captured General Govan, probably
about 1,000 prisoners, 8 cannon and several flags. The
success of the Federals here spoken of occurred about
the middle of the afternoon; but Granbury’s Texans and
Gordon’s Tennessee brigade charging into the breach
rectified Hardee’s line, which was then successfully held
until night against heavy odds. Hardee’s gallant fight
secured Hood’s safe retreat from Atlanta. The brave
stand made by Hardee’s men in the battle of Jonesboro
was one of the most gallant deeds of the war.

At 5 p. m., September ist, the evacuation of Atlanta
was begun, the troops falling back toward McDonough.
Preparations for the removal of stores had begun on
the previous day. It appears that all the ordnance might
have been removed safely, but on account of some con¬
fusion there Were destroyed or abandoned a small quan¬
tity of quartermaster’s and medical stores, some subsist-

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

351

ence stores, 13 heavy guns and carriages, 28 carloads
of ordnance, 81 cars and 5 engines. The subsistence
stores were distributed among the citizens, and the heavy
guns were unavoidably lost. At Jonesboro Sherman
heard the explosions at 2 a. m. and 4 a. m. of the 2d,
and thought that perhaps Slocum was making a night
attack on the city. But that officer postponed his tri¬
umphal entry until later in the morning of the 2d.

Stewart and Lee’s corps marched all night of the 1st,
and the advance of the wagon train reached McDonough,
10 miles east of Lovejoy’s Station, at 2 p. m. next day.
Stewart was ordered to the latter place to support Har¬
dee ; Lee, who reached McDonough on the 3d, was sent
to the same destination; General Smith’s State troops
were ordered to Griffin, and Jackson kept his scouts out
well in the direction of Greenville. Sherman on the 2d
moved his army down before Hardee’s position at Love-
joy’s, but did not make a determined attack, and then
being advised of the evacuation of Atlanta, and perceiv¬
ing that he was too late to prevent the concentration
of Hood’s forces, abandoned his position on the 5th.
Thomas’ army was grouped about Atlanta, Howard’s at
East Point, and Schofield’s at Decatur. Hood united
his forces at Lovejoy’s Station and Jonesboro. So closed
the Atlanta campaign.

Johnston, in his report of October 20th, estimated the
loss of infantry and artillery from May 5th until he
relinquished command, at “about 10,000 in killed and
wounded, and 4,700 from all other causes, mainly slight
sickness produced by heavy cold rains in latter June.

. . . The effective force transferred to General Hood was
about 41,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry.’’ Medical
Director A. J. Foard’s reports corroborate General
Johnston’s estimate, giving the killed at 1,358 and
wounded 8,614; and according to the same authority, the
losses from July 4th to September 1st were: In Hardee’s
corps, 4,456 killed and wounded; Lee’s corps, 4,638 killed

352

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

and wounded ; Stewart’s corps, 3,244; Wheeler’s cavalry,
185; engineers’, 23; total, 12,546.*

The effective strength of Sherman’s army was reported
June 30th at 106,070; on July 31st, 91,675; on August
31st, 81,758. The Federal medical director reported that
between May 1st and September 6th there were received
in hospital 19,557, of whom 1,718 died in the field hos¬
pitals. The total Federal loss in the campaign has been
estimated by Northern authorities at 4,423 killed, 22,822
wounded, 4,442 missing; total, 31,687.

* Hood reported, February 15, 1865, that his effective strength
September 20th was 27,094 infantry, 10,543 cavalry, 2,766 artillery,
and that he had sent 1,600 men to Mobile and Macon; total, 43,503,
counting the militia at 1,500. As the effective total turned over to
him July 18th was 48,750, he said, this showed a total loss of 5,247
men. But Hardee comments on this: “The casualties in my corps
alone during that time considerably exceeded 7,000 in killed,
wounded and captured.” Hood estimated the loss under Johnston,
including missing, at 22,750.

CHAPTER XVII.

THE FATE OF ATLANTA— HOOD'S ADVANCE IN NORTH
GEORGIA — ATTACK ON ALLATOONA — SHERMAN’S
MARCH TO THE SEA— FALL OF FORT McALLISTER
— EVACUATION OF SAVANNAH— GEORGIANS IN THE
NASHVILLE CAMPAIGN.

IMMEDIATELY after his return to Atlanta from
Jonesboro, Sherman determined to make that city a
military camp, and issued orders accordingly. “ The
city of Atlanta,” these orders read, ‘‘being exclusively
required for warlike purposes, will at once be vacated
by all except the armies of the United States and such
civilian employes as may be retained by the proper
department of government.” The chief quartermaster
was instructed to take possession of buildings of all
kinds, and of all staple articles, such as cotton and to¬
bacco. The chief engineer was to reconnoiter the city and
suburbs for a more contracted line of defense, and desig¬
nate such buildings as should be destroyed to make room
for his operations. The remaining buildings would be
set apart for different military uses, and under the direc¬
tion of the quartermaster the troops were to be permitted
to pull down buildings and use the materials for construct¬
ing shanties and bivouacs. The mayor, James M. Cal¬
houn, was compelled to issue the following proclamation,
September 8th :

To the Citizens of Atlanta : General Sherman instructs
me to say to you that you must all leave Atlanta ; that as
many of you as want to go North can do so, and that as
many as want to go South can do so, and that all can take
with them their movable property, servants included, if
they want to go, but that no force is to be used ; and
that he will furnish transportation for persons and prop-

353

Ga 45

354

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

erty as far as Rough and Ready, from whence it is ex¬
pected General Hood will assist in carrying it on. Like
transportation will be furnished for people and property
going North, and it is required that all things contem¬
plated by this notice will be carried into execution as soon
as possible.

In a letter to General Hood, Sherman wrote that he
considered “it to be to the interest of the United States
that all citizens now residing in Atlanta should remove, ”
to which Hood replied: “This unprecedented measure
transcends in studied and ingenious cruelty all acts ever
before brought to my attention in the dark history of
war.” He agreed, for the sake of humanity, to assist in
the removal of the citizens, and a truce of ten days,
applying to the vicinity of Rough and Ready, was ar¬
ranged for that purpose. At the same time negotiations
were opened for the exchange of prisoners. On the ioth,
Governor Brown addressed General Hood in behalf of
the militia, stating that they had left their homes with¬
out preparation, expecting to serve but a short time, and
should be permitted to visit them.

Hood’s return for September ioth showed an effective
total of 8,417 in Hardee’s corps, 7,401 in Lee’s, 8,849
in Stewart’s, aggregate 24,667 infantry. Jackson had
3,794 effective cavalry, and Wheeler was in north Ala¬
bama. The artillery with the army included 3,382 men,
making the total effective force (excluding Wheeler’s
command, absent on an expedition), 31, 843. The aggre¬
gate present was reported at 60,000, but deducting Wheel¬
er’s 11,237, shows present with Hood on above date 49,137
of all arms.

On the nth Hood telegraphed Bragg, now at Rich¬
mond, that he wished to move by the left flank as soon
as possible, so as to interrupt the communications of
Sherman. In accordance with this plan, Wheeler was
directed to enter north Georgia again, destroy the rail¬
road south of Dalton, and connect with Jackson, who was
to be sent across the Chattahoochee. Wheeler promptly

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

355

obeyed the orders and again caused an interruption of a
week or two on the Western & Atlantic railroad. On
the 1 8th, having caused the iron to be removed from the
railroads running into Atlanta, for a distance of forty
miles, and directing railroad stock to be restored to the
West Point railroad, Hood began his movement to the
left. Taking position from Palmetto to the Chattahoo¬
chee river, he waited there ten days for the accumulation
of supplies. In this position he exposed Augusta and
Macon, but he hoped to save them by his proposed flank
march. On the 2 2d he advised General Bragg that if
Sherman did not move south he would cross the Chatta¬
hoochee and form line of battle near Powder Springs,
which would prevent Sherman from using the railroad in
his rear, “and force him to drive me off or move south,
when I shall fall upon his rear.”

During this month Sherman conceived the idea that
Georgia might be politically isolated from the other
States in the Confederacy. Knowing that Vice-President
Stephens and Governor Brown, both influential leaders
in Georgia, had opposed the President in some matters of
policy, Sherman conceived the idea that there was such
hostility to Mr. Davis in Georgia that he could induce
these eminent men to entertain a proposition for peace, or
even to advise the State to withdraw from the Confederacy
so as to avoid further destruction of its material interests.
Acting on this idea, Sherman sent ambassadors to Stephens
and Brown, but while they were willing to promote an
honorable peace, they declined to consider any dishonor¬
ing proposition for independent State action, and refused
peremptorily to visit the Federal commander on the terms
stated by him. They were fully determined to remain
true to the Confederacy, though the prospect of its affairs
was very gloomy.

President Davis, accompanied by Senator Hill, now
came to Georgia, and made a speech at Macon in which he
endeavored to communicate to his hearers his own indom-

356

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

itable spirit. On the 25 th and 26th the President visited
the army and was enthusiastically received by the troops.

During this visit Lieutenant-General Hardee was sup¬
planted by Major-General Cheatham, and on October 5th
was given command of the department of South Carolina,
Georgia and Florida, which had been under the charge
of Maj.-Gen. Samuel Jones since April 20th. Gen. How¬
ell Cobb was put in command of the district of Georgia.

September 29th, Hood began his northward movement
with the entire army, crossing the Chattahoochee, and
the next day moved toward the line of Dallas and Mari¬
etta, with Jackson’s cavalry at Powder Springs.

Sherman was fully aware that he could not remain at
Atlanta with his great army depending on the Western
& Atlantic railroad for supplies. Neither did he feel
able to move south against Hood. He supposed Forrest
would cut his railroad, but it could not be helped, he
said, for Forrest could travel 100 miles while his own
cavalry went 10. “I have sent two divisions up to Chat¬
tanooga and one to Rome, and Thomas started to-day to
clear out Tennessee.” As soon as advised of Hood’s
crossing of the Chattahoochee toward his rear, Sherman
left General Slocum and his corps to guard Atlanta and
the Chattahoochee bridge, and started northward in pur¬
suit of Hood with five corps.

Hood reached the vicinity of Lost mountain on the 3d,
and on the 4th General Stewart’s corps struck the rail¬
road at Acworth and Big Shanty, capturing 400 prisoners
and some stores. Major-General French’s division, about
3,000 strong, was sent against Allatoona, one of Sher¬
man’s most important depots, where were stored about
1,000,000 rations. The Federal garrison of 890 men,
under Colonel Tourtellotte, had been reinforced by Gen.
John M. Corse with one brigade, 1,054 strong, from Rome,
the orders being transmitted mainly by the signal stations
established on the summits of the hills and mountains
along the Federal line of communication.

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

357

Corse reached Allatoona about i a. m. of the 5th.
French arrived about 3 a. m., uninformed of the Federal
reinforcements, and before daylight, while skirmishing
was going on with the pickets, endeavored to gain the
ridge commanding the town. At dawn he resumed his
march, and by 7:30 the head of his column was on the
ridge about 600 yards west of the Federal works, which
consisted of three redoubts on the west of the deep rail¬
road cut, and a star fort on the east, with outer works,
abatis, stockades and other obstructions. Meanwhile
General Corse had disposed his forces in and before his
fortifications, with Tourtellotte in command on the east
of the cut. French sent General Sears’ brigade to the
north of the works, while Major Myrick opened fire with
his artillery. The plan was for Sears to begin the fight,
upon which Gen. F. M. Cockrell’s Missouri brigade would
attack from the other side, supported by four Texas regi¬
ments under Gen. W. H. Young. At 9 o’clock, when the
troops were in position, General French sent in a sum¬
mons for unconditional surrender, to avoid “the needless
effusion of blood,’’ and gave five minutes for reply.
General Corse declined and the attack began.

The Missourians and Texans struck the line on the
west of the cut commanded by Colonel Rowett, and after
severe fighting, says Corse, swept part of his line back
like so much chaff. Corse was only able under cover
of a heavy fire from Tourtellotte to send an aide over for
reinforcements. Before they could arrive both Sears and
Young, according to Corse’s report, assaulted with so
much vigor and in such force as to break Rowett ’s line,
and “had not the Thirty-ninth Iowa fought with the des¬
peration it did, I never would have been able to bring a
man back into the redoubt.” After a desperate struggle,
Rowett brought his force, the Thirty-ninth Iowa, Sev¬
enth and Ninety-third Illinois into the redoubts, where
they were reinforced by the Twelfth and Fiftieth Illinois
from the east side of the cut. The Confederates gained

358

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

two of the redoubts held by Rowett, and then surrounded
this last work with a storm of fire. Tourtellotte, on the
east side, though badly wounded, managed to hold his
main works, while Sears fought close up to the strong
position.

About io a. m. Sherman had reached Kenesaw mount¬
ain, and seeing the smoke and hearing the artillery, sig¬
naled Corse to hold the fort, and ordered J. D. Cox’s corps
westward to threaten French’s connection with the main
Confederate army. Corse himself was severely wounded,
but his men fought on under the assurance of relief, until
French, early in the afternoon receiving intelligence of
the threatening movement by General Cox, despaired of
reducing the Federal garrison before night, and withdrew
to rescue his command ; but before leaving the place, he
captured the blockhouse at Allatoona creek, and burned
the bridge. General French reported a capture of 205 pris¬
oners and two flags, and gave his loss at 122 killed, 443
wounded, and 233 missing, total 798. General Young
was wounded and captured, and nearly 70 other gallant
officers were either wounded or killed. These casualties
were suffered by the Confederate assaulting force of
only a little over 2,000. Corse reported his own loss at
142 killed, 352 wounded, and 212 missing, total 706.

Hood now moved rapidly toward Rome, and Sherman
followed through Allatoona pass to Kingston, and thence
to Rome, but Hood crossed below that city and marched
into the valley of the Oostenaula, escaping any collision ex.
cept between cavalry. The Confederate advance attacked
Resaca and demanded its surrender, but the Federal gar¬
rison was reinforced in time for safety. Sherman also
followed to Resaca, but before his arrival on the 14th,
Hood had destroyed the railroad thence to Tunnel Hill
and captured the garrisons at Dalton, Tilton and Mill
Creek gap, about 1,000 prisoners in all. Sherman
moved into Snake Creek gap, through which he had
passed in the opposite direction five months before, and

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY. 359

was delayed there by the Confederate rear guard. At
Ship’s gap, Col. Ellison Capers, with his South Carolina
regiment, held back the Federal advance until part of his
force was captured. Thus Hood managed to move south
from Lafayette down the Chattooga valley before Sher¬
man could intercept him, and the latter followed down to
Gaylesville, Ala., where he remained about two weeks
from the 19th, watching the Confederate army at Gads¬
den, and foraging from the rich country into which Hood
had led him.

On the 17th General Beauregard took command of the
new military division of the West, east of the Mississippi,
comprising Hood’s department of Tennessee and Geor¬
gia, and Lieut. -Gen. Richard Taylor’s department — Ala¬
bama, Mississippi and East Louisiana.

By the last of the month, Hood had moved his army
across Alabama to Tuscumbia, and Sherman, sending
the corps of Stanley and Schofield and all the cavalry
except Kilpatrick’s division to Chattanooga to report to
Thomas, who was given chief command of all Federal
troops in Tennessee, moved his remaining three corps
back to Kingston, whence he sent all the impedimenta
back to Chattanooga, and prepared for the long march
which he now contemplated. On the nth of November
he ordered Corse to destroy everything at Rome that
could be useful to an enemy, as well as the railroads in
and about Atlanta, and northward to the Etowah. All
garrisons from Kingston northward were ordered back
to Chattanooga. Thus having cut himself off from the
rear, he concentrated around Atlanta, on the 14th of
November, four corps of infantry, the right wing under
Howard and the left under Slocum, embracing 60,000
infantry, and 5,500 cavalry under Kilpatrick.

Under Sherman’s orders Capt. O. M. Poe “thoroughly
destroyed Atlanta, save its mere dwelling-houses and
churches. ’ ’ The destruction was by fire purposely applied
to buildings, and permitted to spread, as was expected,

360

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

from house to house until the defenseless city was almost
entirely reduced to ashes. No efforts were made to pre¬
vent the spread of the conflagration, and scarcely any
structure was designedly spared. Only about 450 buildings
escaped this ruthless burning, among them many churches,
which in those days generally stood apart from other
buildings. The thoroughness of the destruction can be
realized, when we consider that by the census of i860
Atlanta had a population of 10,000, which in 1864 had
increased to 14,000. More than 4,000 houses, including
dwellings, shops, stores, mills and depots were burned,
about eleven-twelfths of the city. Capt. Daniel Oakey,
of the Second Massachusetts volunteers, says: “Sixty
thousand of us witnessed the destruction of Atlanta, while
our post band and that of the Thirty-third Massachusetts
played martial airs and operatic selections. ’ ’ Sherman
himself noted the rising columns of smoke as he rode
away from the city. Considering that he had been in
possession of the city since the 3d of September, he had
had ample time to utterly destroy everything in it that
could be of advantage to an enemy, without the wanton
and inexcusable method to which he resorted. It was
no more necessary from a military point of view to
destroy mercantile establishments than private dwellings
or churches. The destruction of Atlanta can never be
excused. The name of the Federal commander will
always be associated with this barbarous act.

On November 15th the Federal right wing and cavalry
started toward Jonesboro and McDonough to make a
feint at Macon, but crossed the Ocmulgee river near
Jackson, and reached Gordon in seven days. Slocum
with one corps moved out eastward via Decatur, with
orders to burn the Oconee bridge, east of Madison, after
which to turn south and reach Milledgeville in seven
days. Sherman himself left Atlanta on the 16th with
Jeff C. Davis’ corps, and moved via Lithonia and Cov¬
ington, directly on Milledgeville. His object was to inter-

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

361

pose his army between Macon and Augusta, and thus
divide the Confederate forces.

Gen. G. W. Smith, in command of the First division,
Georgia reserves, had at Lovejoy’s Station a force num¬
bering about 2,800 effective infantry, 200 or 300 cavalry,
and three batteries. Brigadier-General Iverson with two
brigades of cavalry covered his front. On the 12th,
Major-General Wheeler arrived in person and his cavalry
division soon followed from Alabama. After the cavalry
had skirmished with Howard’s advance, Smith fell back
to Griffin, and there learning of the Federal movements
eastward, moved rapidly to Macon. Wheeler notified
Generals Bragg and Hardee, General Beauregard at
Tuscumbia, Gen. Howell Cobb, General Taylor at Selma,
General Hood and others, of the enemy’s movements and
evident intentions, and General Cobb also advised those
high in command of the danger that was threatening.
General Cobb, at Macon, had but a small force, and
reinforcements were urgently called for. But there were
few that could be spared. Beauregard could only send
Gen. Richard Taylor to take command, and himself fol¬
low, but he had no forces to take with him. The war
department extended Hardee’s command to the Chatta¬
hoochee, but he could only spare the Fifth Georgia with¬
out stripping the coast. President Davis instructed
General Cobb to get out every man who could render
service, and promised that Colonel Rains, at Augusta,
would furnish torpedoes to plant in the roads. Stirring
appeals were made to the people of Georgia by Senator
Hill and the Georgia congressmen to fly to arms, remove
all subsistence from the course of Sherman’s army, and
destroy what could not be carried away ; burn all bridges,
block up roads, and assail the invader night and day.

Meanwhile Sherman marched on, creating a charred
avenue over 40 miles wide through the unprotected
State, destroying the railroads, seizing all provisions,
pillaging, plundering and burning. There was no force

Ga 46

362

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

available to obstruct his onward course. He had simply to
accomplish the military feat of “marching through Geor¬
gia.’’ The forces of Generals Wheeler, Smith and Cobb
being concentrated at Macon on the 19th, General Hardee
took command, and sent Wheeler up to Clinton to recon-
noiter. Six of his men dashed into Clinton and captured
the servant of General Osterhaus, corps commander, with¬
in twenty feet of headquarters. Charging and counter¬
charging followed, ending in the repulse of a Federal
cavalry command by Wheeler’s escort. On the 20th there
was active skirmishing by Wheeler. Kilpatrick advanced
as far as the redoubts about Macon, held by the infantry
and dismounted cavalry, and the head of his column
entered the works but were repulsed. On the 2 2d, How¬
ard having approached Gordon, sent Wood’s division and
Kilpatrick’s cavalry toward Macon for another demonstra¬
tion. This force was met by Wheeler’s men, who charged
early in the morning and captured one of the Federal
picket posts, causing the loss of about 60 to the enemy.
A considerable cavalry fight followed, and in the after¬
noon Walcutt’s Federal brigade behind barricades was
attacked by the Confederate infantry and a battery with
great vigor. Walcutt was wounded, but managed to hold
his ground with the assistance of cavalry.

On another part of the line of invasion the Federal
Twentieth corps, opposed only by desultory skirmishing
of small Confederate bands, had made a path of destruc¬
tion through Madison and Eatonton. Geary’s division
destroyed the fine railroad bridge over the Oconee, and
the mill and ferryboats near Buckhead. On the 19th he
also destroyed about 500 bales of cotton and 50,000 bush¬
els of corn, mostly on the plantation of Col. Lee Jordan.
This corps entered Milledgeville on the 20th, and Davis’
corps, accompanied by Sherman, arrived next day.

The State legislature hastily adjourned, and under the
direction of Gen. Ira R. Foster, quartermaster-general of
the State, great efforts were made to remove the State

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

363

property and archives, but on account of the scarcity of
wagons and the demoralized condition of the people,
adequate help could not be obtained. As the peniten¬
tiary had been used for the manufacture of arms, and
was expected to be destroyed, Governor Brown released
all the convicts and organized them into a regularly mus-
tered-in and uniformed battalion under Captain Roberts,
which subsequently did good service in removing prop¬
erty and in battle.

Upon the arrival of the Federals, two regiments under
Colonel Hawley, of Wisconsin, occupied the capital city,
and according to his own report, burned the railroad
depot, two arsenals, a powder magazine and other public
buildings and shops, and destroyed large quantities of
arms, ammunition and salt. A general pillage followed
these acts of war. Then the two Federal corps pushed
on by way of Hebron, Sandersville, Tennille and Louis¬
ville, and Howard’s wing crossed the Oconee at Ball’s
ferry and advanced in two columns by the ist of Decem¬
ber to the neighborhood of Sebastopol.

Howard at this date reported that he had destroyed the
Ocmulgee cotton mills, and had supplied his army from
the country, which he found full of provisions and forage.
“I regret to say that quite a number of private dwellings
which the inhabitants have left have been destroyed by
fire, but without official sanction ; also many instances of
the most inexcusable and wanton acts, such as the break¬
ing open of trunks, taking of silver plate, etc. I have
taken measures to prevent it, and I believe they will be
effectual. The inhabitants are generally terrified and
believe us a thousand times worse than we are.” The
wanton destruction went on, however, with rarely such
efforts to restrain the soldiery from depredations.

As Howard advanced, Gen. H. C. Wayne, with the
cadets of the Georgia military institute and part of the
reserves, fell back across the Oconee. Maj. A. L. Hart-
ridge in a gallant fight defended the Oconee railroad

364

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

bridge. The Federals by the feint at Macon had man¬
aged to hold General Hardee there with some forces in
their rear, and the similar feint toward Augusta detained
Gen. B. D. Fry, with about 4,000 troops. On the 23d,
Austin, with the cadets, successfully held the railroad
bridge against the enemy, and Hartridge, at the ferry,
drove back across the river a Federal detachment which
had forced its way over. This permitted the removal of
the stores from Tennille. Gen. A. R. Wright took com¬
mand in this quarter under authority of a telegram from
President Davis, all communication between the east and
the west sides of the State being broken. Augusta was
reinforced by troops under Generals Chestnut and Gartrell
from South Carolina. Beauregard, arriving at Macon,
where Lieutenant-General Taylor also was, reported that
Sherman was doubtless en route to the sea, thence to
reinforce Grant, and he instructed Hood that he should
promptly crush Thomas in middle Tennessee, to relieve
Lee.

On the 24th, Wayne reported to General McLaws that
the Federals were shelling him at Oconee bridge, but
he kept up a gallant fight till night, holding one end of
the bridge while the enemy set fire to the other. Finally
parties crossed the river to his right and left, and he
was compelled to withdraw his few hundred men.
Wheeler crossed the river to the south on the same day
and moved to the support of the Confederates.

On the 25 th General Bragg reached Augusta and took
command. Wheeler, pushing on to Sandersville, rein¬
forced the local troops which were skirmishing with the
Federal cavalry advance, and drove the latter back with
some loss. On the same evening, learning that Kilpat¬
rick had started out toward Augusta, he left Iverson
before the Federal infantry, and overtaking Kilpatrick at
midnight, drove him from the main Augusta road. Push¬
ing on rapidly he struck the enemy several times during
the early morning, capturing prisoners. The way was

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

365

lighted with the barns and houses, cotton gins, and corn-
cribs fired by the Federals. Kilpatrick was forced to turn
off by way of Waynesboro, where he destroyed the bridge
and set fire to the town, but Wheeler arrived in time to
extinguish the flames. Beyond Waynesboro, Kilpatrick
hastily barricaded a line which Wheeler assailed with
great spirit, Humes and Anderson attacking on the flank.
The enemy was routed, losing a large number in killed,
wounded and prisoners, General Kilpatrick himself escap¬
ing with the loss of his hat. In a swamp the fight was
renewed, and the enemy again stampeded with the loss of
about 200. Retreating over Buckhead creek, Kilpatrick
fired the bridge but could not hold his ground long enough
to see it burned, and Wheeler repaired the structure and
crossed in pursuit. His worn-out troopers had now been
riding and fighting a night and a day, but before night
again arrived he attacked the Federal line behind their
barricades and again sent them flying. “During the
night,” Wheeler reported, “Kilpatrick sought the pro¬
tection of his infantry, which he did not venture to for¬
sake again during the campaign. ’ ’

The third period of Sherman’s advance, in the first ten
days of December, was toward Savannah in five columns:
The Fourteenth corps immediately south of the Savannah
river, the Seventeenth corps on the north side of the
Ogeechee, the Twentieth midway between, and the Fif¬
teenth in two columns south of the Ogeechee, the south¬
erly column passing through Statesboro. On December
2d Sherman sent Kilpatrick out toward Waynesboro again,
supported by Baird’s division of infantry. Wheeler
checked the advance at Rocky creek, but was flanked from
this position. Next day he attacked the enemy in force,
and renewed the attack at midnight. On the 3d the Feder-
als advanced, and Wheeler threw up barricades and fought
desperately, but was pushed back to Waynesboro. Here
he was so warmly pressed that it was with difficulty he
succeeded in withdrawing from his position, but a gal-

366

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

lant charge of Texans and Tennesseeans enabled him to
retreat in safety. The remainder of his operations mainly
consisted in persistent attacks upon the Federal rear.
After approaching Savannah closely, he left Iverson to
watch the enemy on the Georgia side, while he crossed
into South Carolina and held the line of communication
from Huger’ s landing to Hardeeville, protecting the New
River bridge, east of the Charleston railroad.

Wheeler reported that in this campaign his force never
exceeded 3,500 men, and he seldom had more than 2,000
in his immediate command. “The enemy had been
falsely informed by their officers that we took no prison¬
ers, which caused him to fight with desperation and to
run very dangerous gauntlets to escape capture, which
frequently accounts for the large number of killed. In
every rout of their cavalry, and in the many fights that
ensued, they continued to flee, refusing to surrender, not¬
withstanding the demands of our men in close pursuit.
Consequently no alternative was left but to shoot or saber
them to prevent escape.” In approaching Savannah,
Sherman’s left wing struck the Charleston railroad near
the bridge over the Savannah river, and established bat¬
teries. The right wing arriving promptly, the Confed¬
erate outer works, beginning about 4 miles above the
city on the Savannah and extending southwest to the
Little Ogeechee, were closely invested.

Gen. G. W. Smith, by presenting a bold front at
Griffin, Forsyth and Macon, successively caused Howard
to pass those places unmolested. At Griswoldville the
State troops, contrary to Smith’s orders, made an attack
upon an intrenched Federal division, and were repulsed
with a loss of 51 killed and 472 wounded. Yet they
remained close to the Federal line until dark. Then
they were withdrawn to Macon and sent on the cars by
way of Albany and Thomasville to Savannah.

Though the troops of General Smith had not enlisted
for service outside the State, they marched in the latter

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

367

part of November to Grahamville, S. C., to defend the
railroad to Charleston from the operations of General
Foster, who advanced from Broad river. There they
fought gallantly November 30th, in the battle of Honey
Hill, beating back the repeated Federal attacks. Gen¬
eral Smith in his report particularly commended the serv¬
ice of Colonel Willis, commanding First brigade of
Georgia militia; Major Cook, commanding the Athens
and Augusta battalions of reserves, and Lieutenant-
Colonel Edwards, commanding the Forty-seventh Geor¬
gia regiment. After this brilliant affair the Georgia mili¬
tia returned to the State. A notable feature of this battle
was the presence in the ranks of the Confederates
of some boy volunteers, even under the age subject
to conscription. Some of these boys were not tall enough
to shoot over the parapet. But they curiously and enter¬
prisingly so arranged that one would get upon his hands
and knees, making a bench on which another would
stand, deliver his fire and then change places with his
comrade, so that he in his turn might get a shot at the
“Yankees.”

Vigorous fighting continued in the vicinity of Coosaw-
hatchie, threatening Hardee’s only avenue of escape,
and a fleet of sixty vessels was reported at Hilton Head.
These carried supplies for Sherman’s men, who were sub¬
sisting mainly on rice and finding it inadequate. Hardee
saw that retreat was inevitable, and entertained reason¬
able fears that delay would render escape impossible. On
the 8th General Beauregard advised him, as there was
no army of relief to be expected, whenever it became
necessary to choose between the safety of his army and
that of the city of Savannah, to sacrifice the latter.

One of the precautions taken by Hardee to prevent
Sherman from cutting off his retreat into South Carolina
was the sending of Flag-Officer W. W. Hunter up the
Savannah river to destroy the Charleston and Savannah
railroad bridge. Taking his flagship Sampson, the gun-

368

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

boat Macon and a small transport steamer laden with sup¬
plies, Hunter successfully accomplished his mission and
then returned to Savannah. As he approached the city,
however, he found the Federal batteries in position, and
after a gallant attempt to pass, in which the transport
was disabled and captured, he was compelled to take his
two small wooden gunboats up the river. Taking advan¬
tage of unusually high water, he was enabled to pass the
obstructions and reach Augusta, where he and the most
of his command were finally surrendered under General
Johnston’s capitulation.

To open up communications with the Federal fleet,
Howard marched farther south and rebuilt King’s bridge,
while Kilpatrick reconnoitered Fort McAllister, upon
which fire was opened by DeGress’ battery on the 13th.
Hazen’s division, which, with J. E. Smith’s division, had
marched by Statesboro where a number of their foragers
had been killed and captured by Confederate cavalry,
and later had forced a passage across the Canouchee
opposed by Confederate infantry and artillery, was sent
against Fort McAllister, the vicinity of which was reached
about 11 a. m. on December 13th. They were delayed
by the picket line and torpedoes in the road, and it was
not until 4:45 that the assaulting column of nine regi¬
ments closed up around the fort, which was held by Maj.
George W. Anderson and 250 men. General Hazen
reported that the fort was carried at precisely 5 p. m.
“At close quarters the fighting became desperate and
deadly. Just outside the works a line of torpedoes had
been placed, many of which were exploded by the tread
of the troops, blowing many men to atoms, but the
line moved on without checking, over, under and through
abatis, ditches, palisading and parapet, fighting the gar¬
rison through the fort to their bomb-proofs, from which
they still fought, and only succumbed as each man was
individually overpowered.’’ The report of General
Hazen is as high a compliment as the brave Confederate

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. •

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

369

garrison of Fort McAllister could desire. The Federal
loss in the assault was 24 killed and no wounded.

Sherman, who was watching the assault from the rice
mill, as soon as he saw the United States flag hoisted,
went down the river in a boat, and observing a Federal
vessel farther down the Ogeechee, went on and for the
first time communicated with Dahlgren’s fleet. Next
day he met Dahlgren at Warsaw sound, and ar¬
ranged that he should be furnished with siege guns for
the reduction of the lines before Savannah. On the 17th
he sent in from Slocum’s headquarters on the Augusta
road a demand for surrender, and on the following day
received a refusal from General Hardee, who had about
15,000 troops, besides General Smith’s 2,000 Georgia
State troops occupying the intrenched line west of the
city. Sherman, having next arranged for the assault by
Slocum, went to Port Royal by boat to urge the move¬
ment against the Charleston & Savannah railroad. On
the 2 1 st he was informed, to his great disappointment,
that Hardee had escaped into South Carolina.

A pontoon bridge, about half a mile in length, having
been constructed from Hutchison’s island across the
Savannah, Hardee moved his army out in safety on the
2 1 st, taking with him his artillery and baggage wagons,
and made a secure retreat, one of the most successful
in the course of the war. General Smith’s command
brought up the rear and was then transferred to Au¬
gusta.

Commodore Tattnall had been prevented from making
a dash seaward with his fleet, the main strength of which
was the armored ship Savannah, by the placing of seven
monitors in the Savannah river and other channels of
escape. The remainder of Admiral Dahlgren’s fleet had
bombarded Battery Beaulieu on Vernon river and other
works on the Ogeechee and Ossabaw. Before the evac¬
uation, Commodore Tattnall destroyed the ships and
naval property, blowing up the water battery Georgia,

Ga 47

370

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

burning and sinking the Milledgeville and Waterwitch,
and destroying the navy yard and a large quantity of
ship timber. An unfinished torpedo boat, the small
steamers Beauregard and General Lee, 150 pieces of
ordnance and 32,000 bales of cotton fell into the hands of
the Federals. The Savannah was still in the river when
the United States flag was hoisted over Fort Jackson, and
Captain Brent, its commander, at once opened fire, driv¬
ing the troops from the guns of the fort, and defiantly
flying the stars and bars until night of the 21st. Brent
then ran the Savannah over to the South Carolina shore,
disembarked, that his crew might join Hardee’s column,
and at 10 o’clock the ironclad was blown up. General
Slocum had discovered the evacuation at 3 a. m. on the
2 1 st, and his command at once occupied the city.

In his report of the march to the sea, General Sherman
declared that he had destroyed the railroads for more
than 100 miles, and had consumed the com and fodder in
the region of country 30 miles on either side of a line
from Atlanta to Savannah, as also the sweet potatoes,
cattle, hogs, sheep and poultry, and carried away more
than 10,000 horses and mules, as well as a countless num¬
ber of slaves. “I estimate the damage done to the State
of Georgia and its military resources at $100,000,000; at
least $20,000,000 of which has inured to our advantage,
and the remainder is simply waste and destruction.”
After admitting that ‘‘this may seem a hard species of
warfare, ” he comforted himself with the reflection that
it brought the sad realities of war home to those who
supported it. Thus condoning all the outrages commit¬
ted by an unrestrained army, he further reported that
his men were ‘‘a little loose in foraging, and did some
things they ought not to have done.”

Howard, evidently ashamed of the manner of the march¬
ing through Georgia, claims that the “Sherman bum¬
mers” were not with his wing. He reported the capture
of about 1,200 prisoners, 10,500 cattle, about $300,000

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

371

worth of subsistence, 931 horses, 1,850 mules, about
5,000,000 pounds each of corn and fodder, and the de¬
struction of 3,500 bales of cotton and 191 miles of rail¬
road. Slocum reported a similar amount of subsistence
taken, 119 miles of railroad wrecked, 17,000 bales of
cotton destroyed. The limits of this chapter do not
permit of an adequate description of the ruin wrought
throughout Georgia. The imagination, acting upon the
basis of the outline here given, cannot exceed the reality.

In his message of February 17, 1865, Governor Brown,
after recounting the destruction wrought by Sherman, said :

In these misfortunes Georgia has been taunted by
some of the public journals of other States because her
people did not drive back and destroy the enemy. Those
who do us this injustice fail to state the well-known fact
that of all the tens of thousands of veteran infantry,
including most of the vigor and manhood of the State,
which she had furnished for the Confederate service, but
a single regiment, the Georgia regulars, of about 300
effective men, was permitted to be upon her soil during
the march of General Sherman from her northeast bor¬
der to the city of Savannah, and that gallant regiment
was kept upon one of our islands most of the time and
not permitted to unite with those who met the enemy.
Nor were the places of our absent sons filled by troops
from other States. One brigade of Confederate troops
was sent by the President from North Carolina, which
reached Georgia after her capital was in possession of
the enemy. For eight months the Confederate reserves,
reserve militia, detailed men, exempts, and most State
officers, civil as well as military, had kept the field almost
constantly, participating in every important fight from
Kenesaw to Honey Hill. If the sons of Georgia under
arms in other States had been permitted to meet the foe
upon her own soil, without other assistance, General Sher¬
man’s army could never have passed from the mountains
to the seaboard.

In conclusion, Governor Brown claimed that Georgia
during the fall and winter had a larger proportion of
her white male population under arms than any other
State in the Confederacy.

372

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

We will now describe the gallant but fruitless effort of
General Hood to restore the fortunes of the Confederacy-
in the West.

In the ill-fated army that marched into Tennessee
under General Hood, there were four brigades of Geor¬
gians, and parts of two others. In S. D. Lee’s corps
were Cumming’s brigade — the Thirty-sixth, Thirty-
fourth, Thirty-ninth and Fifty-sixth regiments — of Ste¬
venson’s division; and Stovall’s brigade — the Fortieth,
Forty-first, Forty-second, Forty-third and Fifty-second
regiments — of Clayton’s division. In Cheatham’s corps
were Gist’s brigade — the Forty-sixth, Sixty-fifth, Eighth
battalion, Second sharpshooters, and two South Carolina
regiments — of Brown’s division; and J. A. Smith’s bri¬
gade — First volunteers, Fifty-fourth, Fifty-seventh and
Sixty-third regiments — of Cleburne’s division; and in
Bate’s division, Tyler’s brigade under Brig.-Gen. Thomas
B. Smith, partly composed of the Thirty-seventh Geor¬
gia regiment and the Fourth sharpshooters; and Brig.-
Gen. H. R. Jackson’s brigade, the First Georgia Confed¬
erate, Sixty-sixth, Twenty-fifth, Twenty-ninth and Thir¬
tieth, and First sharpshooters. Corput’s and the Ste¬
phens batteries were in the artillery.

The Georgians of Cheatham’s corps were full partici¬
pants in the terrific fighting at Franklin, Tenn. , Novem¬
ber 30th. Brown’s division gained the ditch and
part of the Federal works, and fought on the crest, but
lost terribly. At the close of the battle Captain Gillis,
Forty-sixth Georgia, was the senior officer of Gist’s bri¬
gade. Gist was killed and Capt. H. A. Garden alone
remained of his staff. The front line of Bate’s division
was Jackson’s and Tyler’s brigades, and Major Caswell,
Georgia sharpshooters, had charge of the skirmish line.
Jackson’s brigade gained the second line of Federal works,
and remained there until after the Federal retreat.
Among the killed was Colonel Smith, First Georgia Con¬
federate, who fell while most gallantly putting his regi-

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

373

ment into the interior works of the enemy. After the
death of Cleburne, who was succeeded temporarily by
Gen. James A. Smith, Col. C. H. Olmstead took com¬
mand of the brigade of that officer (formerly Mercer’s).
When the army moved from Florence, Smith’s brigade
was detached and left behind for the purpose of guard¬
ing a supply train. It did not rejoin the army until
December 6th, in front of Nashville.

Following the battle of Franklin, Bate’s division was
with Forrest in the investment of Murfreesboro. In the
battle at that place, December 7th, Tyler’s and Jackson’s
brigades won the Confederate honors of the day, driving
back in gallant style that part of the enemy’s line which
confronted them. Lieutenant-Colonel Billopp, Twenty-
ninth Georgia, died gallantly at his post of duty. At Nash¬
ville, December 1 5 th and 16th, the Thirty-seventh Georgia,
Tyler’s brigade, fought with conspicuous gallantry, hold¬
ing the extreme left of Ba^’s line defending the Granny
White pike until most of the command had fallen. “The
breach once made,’’ says General Bate, “the lines lifted
from either side as far as I could see almost instantly
and fled in confusion. Two regiments, the Twenty-
ninth and Thirtieth Georgia, then my extreme right,
commanded by Colonel Mitchell, Jackson’s brigade, did
not break, but remained fighting until surrounded.’’
General Jackson was among the captured.

Olmstead’s brigade, at Murfreesboro during the Nash¬
ville catastrophe, marched to Columbia, the barefooted
and ill-clad men suffering terribly in the intense cold,
and during the subsequent retreat fought in the rear
guard. Their successful charge upon the enemy’s ad¬
vance near Pulaski on Christmas day, is remembered as
an example of heroic devotion. The whole Confederate
rear guard was engaged in that charge, and captured a
number of cavalry horses and one cannon, a 12-pounder
Napoleon. The conduct of the Confederate rear guard
under Forrest and Walthall excited the admiration of the

374

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

enemy, General Thomas declaring that it did its duty
bravely to the last. Colonel Olmstead in his report
called special attention to Privates P. Murner and A.
Vicary, color-bearers of the First and Fifty-fourth Geor¬
gia respectively.

At the close of 1864 the polls of the State had decreased
from 52,764 to 39,863. The State’s expenditures for the
year had been as high as $13,288,435, and bank capital
had decreased nearly one-half. It required $49 of Con¬
federate States paper money to buy $1 gold, and the pri¬
vate soldier continued to receive his $11 a month in
paper money.

The Georgia legislature convened February 15, 1865,
at Macon, and was addressed by Governor Brown in a
message in which he severely criticised the Confederate
States administration. He urged the calling of a conven¬
tion of Southern States to consider the crisis and provide
a remedy, but the legislature declined to do this, and
resolutions were passed sustaining the continuance of
the war. One of Governor Brown’s recommendations,
however, the appointment of a commander-in-chief for the
Confederate armies, was justified by the elevation of
Gen. Robert E. Lee to that position.

On January 23d, Gen. William T. Wofford assumed
command in north Georgia, where great desolation had
been wrought, not onl)r by the regular armies and by the
necessary evils of war, but by the heartless depredations
of the worst elements of both armies. General Wofford
called in and organized several thousand men, and
obtained corn and distributed it among the people, in
which he was assisted by General Judah, commanding
the Federal forces.

In Savannah, now in the hands of the Federal army,
a meeting of citizens, called by Mayor R. D. Arnold,
understanding that further resistance was useless, unani¬
mously adopted resolutions favoring submission to the
United States authority, and asking the governor to call

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

375

a convention of the people for the purpose of an expres¬
sion of opinion as to whether the war should be contin¬
ued. In the latter part of January, the main body of
Sherman’s army crossed into South Carolina.

The return of Confederate forces in South Carolina,
January 2, 1865, shows in McLaws’ division: Harrison’s
brigade, 1,612 men; Cumming’s brigade, 505. Col.
John B. Cumming was commanding Georgia reserves at
Hardeeville. Maj.-Gen. Howell Cobb continued in com¬
mand of Georgia reserves with headquarters at Macon.

On January 23d, Governor Brown notified President
Davis that he had ordered out the reserve militia over
fifty years of age, who were at home, and the whole
patrol force of the State, to arrest and send forward
deserters and stragglers. Maj.-Gen. D. H. Hill was put
in command of the district of Georgia in January. Gen¬
eral Iverson was put in command of a cavalry division
including the brigades of Hannon and Lewis, about
1,500 men. Troops began reaching Augusta from Hood’s
army late in January, and D. H. Hill was ordered to take
command of them.

In January, Major-General Hoke’s division, including
Colquitt’s Georgia brigade, was sent from Richmond to
assist in the defense of Fort Fisher, below Wilmington,
N. C. , where they came under the command of General
Bragg. Unfortunately, they were not permitted to take
part in the gallant defense of that stronghold. General
Colquitt was sent with his staff in a small row-boat to
the fort on the evening of the 15 th, to assume com¬
mand, but on landing he found that the garrison had
been compelled to leave Fort Fisher, and was about to
surrender to greatly superior numbers. He and his staff
fortunately escaped capture.

CHAPTER XVIII.

FINAL CAMPAIGN IN VIRGINIA— GEORGIA COMMANDS
AT APPOMATTOX— CAMPAIGN OF THE CAROLINAS —
WILSON’S RAID.

THE Georgia brigades in the army of Northern Vir¬
ginia bore an honorable part in the military opera¬
tions of 1865. Though reduced in numbers, they
maintained their relative strength in an army where all
suffered.

John B. Gordon, of Georgia, promoted to major-gen¬
eral, and later acting lieutenant-general, honored the
State as commander of the Second army corps. Long-
street, closely connected with the State and now one of its
citizens, led the First corps with the same grim earnest¬
ness that had characterized his four years’ service.
George T. Anderson, Henry L. Benning and E. L.
Thomas continued in command of their gallant brigades.
Brig. -Gen. Clement A. Evans, first succeeding Gordon in
brigade leadership, was now promoted to acting major-
general, in command of the division including his old
Georgia brigade, the remnant of the Stonewall division,
and York’s Louisiana brigade. His own brigade was
commanded by Col. John H. Lowe. The gallant George
Doles, killed in the Wilderness battle, was succeeded in
brigade command by Gen. Philip Cook ; Wofford’s brigade
was led by Gen. Dudley M. DuBose, Bryan’s by Gen.
James P. Simms, Wright’s first by Gen. G. M. Sorrel,
and afterward by Col. George E. Taylor.

In the fighting on Hatcher’s run early in February,
Evans’ brigade was distinguished. The two brigades of
Georgians in Gordon’s corps were also participants in the
desperate attack on Grant’s lines March 25, 1865, of

376

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

377

which Gordon had charge. The corps moved forward
before daylight with the division of Evans in front, cap¬
tured a half mile of breastworks with Fort Stedman, and
turned the guns upon the other Federal works. Several
batteries to the right and left were also cleared of their
defenders and occupied by the enthusiastic Georgians.
It was intended that a supporting column of 20,000 men
should follow up and secure the ground thus won, but
they did not arrive in time to go promptly forward. So
the Federals were able to concentrate against the Con¬
federates in such force that they were compelled to fall
back to their own lines with heavy loss.

Two days later, Sheridan with 10,000 cavalry reinforced
Grant, who now rapidly concentrated the main body of
his army to the south and west of Petersburg, with the
purpose of assailing the Confederate right. Without
waiting to be attacked, Lee fell upon the Federals with so
heavy a blow that he forced his enemy back. On the same
day, March 31st, Sheridan was repulsed near Dinwiddie
Court House, but on the next day, reinforced by two corps
of infantry, he overwhelmed Pickett’s smaller force at
Five Forks. On the following morning the Federals
attacked all along the line, which was very thin, there
being in many places only one man to every seven yards.
The gallant defense of Forts Alexander and Gregg
checked the Federals until Longstreet came up and inter¬
posed his corps. That night Lee withdrew from the lines
of Petersburg and Richmond, which he had held so long
and skillfully. Lee’s retreat was conducted with his
usual skill, but the failure to secure supplies at Amelia
Court House caused a delay which was fatal to his plans.
The men of the Seventh Georgia cavalry, with M. W.
Gary’s brigade, were among the last to leave the Confed¬
erate capital just before the last bridge was destroyed.

At Sailor’s creek, where Ewell’s corps was surrounded
and forced to surrender, the brigades of Simms and
DuBose, and Humphreys’ Virginia brigade, fighting

Ga48

378

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

under Gen. J. B. Kershaw, repulsed repeated attacks
until Simms’ command was surrounded and mostly cap¬
tured.

Gordon’s corps, escaping this disaster, took part in
the last assault upon the enemy on the morning of
April 9th, and was in line of battle when the surrender
was announced. After a truce had been made to arrange
the terms of capitulation, General Evans, who commanded
the left division, ignorant of what was occurring else¬
where, had pushed out his skirmishers under Capt.
Kaigler. Suddenly a Federal force appeared, advancing
on his flank, and a small battery opened fire. Immedi¬
ately forwarding his skirmishers under Kaigler, and sup¬
porting them with his command, Evans led a charge,
capturing the battery with a number of prisoners and
driving his assailant from the field. A few minutes later
he received official notice of the surrender and slowly
withdrew his command toward Appomattox. This suc¬
cessful charge shed a parting glory over the last hours of
the illustrious army of Northern Virginia.

Following is the organization of the Georgia commands
in the final operations :

longstreet’s corps.

In C. W. Fields’ division: Brigade of Gen. George
T. Anderson — Seventh regiment, Col. George H. Car-
mical; Eighth, Col. JohnR. Towers; Ninth, Maj. JohnW.
Arnold; Eleventh, Capt. W. H. Ramsey; Fifty-ninth,
Col. Jack Brown. Brigade of Gen. Henry L. Benning
— Second regiment, Capt. Thomas Chaffin, Jr. ; Fifteenth,
Maj. Peter J. Shannon; Seventeenth, Maj. James B.
Moore; Twentieth . . .

In J. B. Kershaw’s division: Brigade of Gen. Dudley
M. DuBose — Sixteenth regiment, Lieut. W. W. Mont¬
gomery; Eighteenth, Capt. J. F. Espy; Twenty- fourth,
Capt. J. A. Garrard; Third sharpshooters; Cobb’s
legion, Lieut. W. G. Steed; Phillips’ legion, Lieut. A. J.
Reese; last commander of brigade, Capt. J. F. Espy.
Brigade of Gen. James P. Simms— Tenth regiment, Lieut.
John B. Evans; Fiftieth, Capt. George "W. Waldron;

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

379

Fifty-first, Capt. H. R. Thomas; Fifty-third, Capt. R. H.
Woods; last commander of brigade, Capt. Waldron.

Gordon’s corps.

In Bryan Grimes’ division: Brigade of Gen. Philip
Cook — Fourth regiment, Col. Edwin Nash, Capt. John
M. Shiver; Twelfth, Capt. JosiahN. Beall; Twenty-first,
Capt. Edward Smith; Forty-fourth, Capt. John A.
Tucker; Patterson’s battery; last commander of brigade,
Colonel Nash.

In Clement A. Evans’ division: Evans’ brigade, Col.
JohnH. Lowe — Thirteenth regiment, Lieut. -Col. Richard
Maltby; Twenty-sixth, Capt. James Knox; Thirty-
first, Capt. Edward C. Perry; Thirty-eighth, Lieut. -
Col. Philip E. Davant; Sixtieth and Sixty-first, Col. W.
B. Jones; Ninth battalion artillery, Sergt. Horace L.
Cranford; Twelfth battalion artillery, Capt. Samuel H.
Crump. Eighteenth battalion infantry, Capt. George W.
Stiles.

a. p. hill’s corps.

In C. M. Wilcox’s division: Brigade of Gen. E. L.
Thomas — Fourteenth regiment, Col. Richard P. Lester;
Thirty-fifth, Col. Bolling H. Holt; Forty-fifth, Col.
Thomas J. Simmons; Forty-ninth, Maj. James B. Dug¬
gan.

In William Mahone’s division: G. M. Sorrel’s brigade,
Col. George E. Taylor — Third regiment, Lieut. -Col.
Claiborne Snead ; Twenty-second, Capt. George W.
Thomas; Forty-eighth, Capt. Alexander C. Flanders;
Sixty-fourth, Capt. James G. Brown; Second battalion,
Maj. Charles J. Moffett; Tenth battalion, Capt. Caleb F.
Hill.

In R. H. Anderson’s corps: Georgia battery, Capt. C.
W. Slaton.

In Fitzhugh Lee’s cavalry corps: Brigade of M. W.
Gary — Seventh Georgia, Capt. W. H. Burroughs.

The aggregate present of these commands on the
Petersburg and Richmond lines previous to the evacua¬
tion was as follows: Anderson’s brigade 1,242, Benning’s
849, DuBose’s 1,012, Simms’ 824, Evans’ 1,328, Cook’s
702, Sorrel’s 1,329, Thomas’ 1,159; total infantry 8,445.
The grand total present for the army at that time was

380

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

51,014 infantry. Hence it appears that one man in six in
General Lee’s army in 1865 was a Georgian.

At Appomattox, the following numbers of officers and
men were paroled in the Georgia brigades: In Ander¬
son’s 987, Benning’s 809, DuBose’s 347, Simms’ 190,
Cook’s 350, Evans’ 841, Sorrel’s 1,033, Thomas’ 513, a
total of 5,070 out of the 22,349 paroled infantry of the
army, or nearly one-fourth.

Early in February, General Sherman began his march
northward from Savannah. He moved in two columns,
one threatening Augusta and the other Charleston. On
the day that he entered Columbia, Hardee evacuated
Charleston, retiring toward North Carolina.

On February 22d, Gen. Joseph E. Johnston was again
called upon to take command of the army of Tennessee,
transferred to the Carolinas, Hardee’s command, Floke’s
division, Hampton’s cavalry, and such other forces as
could be gathered to resist the advance of Sherman, who
was reinforced by Schofield’s corps at Wilmington.

In the organization of the army under Johnston (as
reported after April 9th), the following Georgia commands
were included :

In Brig. -Gen. James A. Smith’s brigade, Cleburne’s old
division — First Georgia (consolidated First, Fifty-seventh
and Sixty-third), Col. C. H. Olmstead; Fifty-fourth (con¬
solidated Thirty-seventh, Fifty-fourth and Fourth battal¬
ion sharpshooters), Col. Theodore D. Caswell.

In Brig. -Gen. A. H. Colquitt’s brigade, Hoke’s division
— Sixth regiment, Maj. James M. Culpeper; Nineteenth,
Lieut. -Col. Ridgeway B. Hogan; Twenty-third, Col.
Marcus R. Ballenger; Twenty-seventh, Lieut. -Col. Heze-
kiah Bussey; Twenty-eighth, Capt. George W. Warthen.

In Gist’s brigade, Col. William G. Foster — Forty-sixth
Georgia, Capt. Abe Miles; Sixty-fifth regiment and Sec¬
ond and Eighth battalions, consolidated, Lieut. -Col. Zach-
ariah L. Watters.

In Brig. -Gen. Stephen Elliott’s brigade, Patton Ander¬
son’s division, Stewart’s corps — Twenty-second battalion
artillery, Maj. Mark J. McMullan; Twenty-seventh bat¬
talion, Maj. Alfred L. Hartridge.

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

381

Col. George P. Harrison’s brigade, Walthall’s division,
Stewart’s corps — First regulars, Col. Richard A. Wayne;
Fifth regiment, Col. Charles P. Daniel; Fifth reserves,
Maj. C. E. McGregor; Thirty-second regiment, Lieut. -
Col. E. H. Bacon, Jr. ; Forty-seventh regiment and
Bonaud’s battalion.

Artillery, Stewart’s corps — Batteries of Capts. Ruel W.
Anderson, John W. Brooks and John F. Wheaton.

Brig. -Gen. Robert J. Henderson’s brigade, Stevenson’s
division, S. D. Lee’s corps — First Georgia Confederate
battalion (consolidated with First sharpshooters and
Twenty-fifth, Twenty-ninth, Thirtieth and Sixty-sixth
regiments), Capt. W. J. Whitsitt; Thirty-ninth regiment
(consolidated with Thirty-fourth and part of Fifty-sixth) ,
Lieut. -Col. W. P. Milton, Col. C. H. Phinizy; Fortieth
battalion (consolidated with Forty-first and Forty- third),
Lieut. W. H. Darnall, Capt. James E. Stallings; Forty-
second Georgia (consolidated with Thirty-sixth and parts
of Thirty-fourth and Fifty-sixth), Lieut. -Col. Lovick P.
Thomas.

In Gen. Wade Hampton’s cavalry were the First, Sec¬
ond, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Twelfth Georgia
cavalry regiments; Phillips’ legion, under Maj. W. W.
Thomas; Cobb’s legion, Capt. R. B. Roberts; Tenth
Georgia, Capt. E. W. Moise. Brig. -Gen. R. H. Anderson
had a brigade command in Hampton’s cavalry.

In the foregoing infantry organizations are represented
the consolidated fragments of the brigades of Brig. -Gens.
John K. Jackson, H. R. Jackson, H. W. Mercer, Alfred
Cumming and M. A. Stovall, which had participated in
the operations up to that time in their original organiza¬
tions, but in very reduced numbers. Stovall’s and Jack¬
son’s brigades of Clayton’s division were together but 416
strong in the battle of Kinston, March 10th, and lost 70.
Cumming’s brigade had 213 effectives. Under the com¬
mand of Col. Robert J. Henderson, during the fighting at
Bentonville, March 19th to 22d, it was warmly commended
by General Stevenson for gallantry in repulsing a flank
attack of the enemy, and received upon the field the
thanks and compliments of General Johnston. In the
same combat J. A. Smith’s brigade was in the front line

382

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

of battle and in the corps command of General Bate. In
the charge on the Federals, Frank Stone, of the Ogle-
thorpes of Augusta (then a company of Olmstead’s First
Georgia), bore one of the old Pat Cleburne battleflags
and was wounded. At the time of the surrender he con¬
cealed the flag about his person and carried it home in
safety. It was afterward lost in the burning of a resi¬
dence, where it had been placed for safekeeping. This
company lost i killed and 3 wounded at Bentonville.

Brigadier-General Iverson in command of 1,500 cavalry
operated on the Georgia side of the Savannah during
the advance of Sherman and kept on guard against raids
into Georgia. Gen. Joseph Wheeler performed a great
service when he defeated Kilpatrick at Aiken, February,
1865, and thus saved Augusta from the fate of Atlanta
and Columbia. At Averasboro Wheeler defeated a
movement of the enemy upon Hardee’s right flank, and
covered the retreat when Hardee withdrew.

In the engagement at Rivers’ bridge, February 3d, the
Thirty-second and Forty-seventh regiments, Fifth re¬
serves and Earle’s battery, under Lieutenant-Colonel
Bacon, were engaged and suffered a loss of 97 killed,
wounded and missing.

Hoke’s division took a prominent part in the battle of
Bentonville, and the heaviest losses in killed and wounded
were sustained by the Georgians of Colquitt’s brigade,
the totals being 41 killed, 178 wounded, 23 missing.

The last considerable military event in Georgia was the
cavalry raid of Gen. James H. Wilson in April, 1865.
He left Chickasaw, Ala., March 2 2d, with about 10,000
men, and after defeating and capturing a large part of
what was left of General Forrest’s cavalry at Selma, en¬
tered Georgia. Upton’s division marched through Tuske-
gee toward Columbia, and Colonel LaGrange, with three
regiments, advanced on West Point by way of Opelika.
Colonel LaGrange found a garrison of 265 devoted Con¬
federates under Gen. Robert C. Tyler in possession of a

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

383

small fort at West Point. The work was 35 yards square,
surrounded by a ditch, supplied with four cannon, and
situated on an eminence commanding the Chattahoochee
bridge at that point. One assault was repelled by the
garrison, but in the second the Federal soldiers swarmed
over the little fort and captured the entire command of
Tyler, who was killed with 18 of his officers and men,
while 28 were severely wounded. The Federal loss
was 7 killed and 29 wounded. At West Point, two
bridges, 19 locomotives and 245 cars loaded with quarter¬
master’s, commissary and ordnance stores, were reported
destroyed by the Federal commander.

At Columbus on the same day, April 16th, a week after
General Lee’s surrender, Gen. Howell Cobb made a gal¬
lant attempt to defend the bridges over the Chattahoo¬
chee, fighting on the Alabama side, but was overwhelmed
by the Federal forces, who took possession of the city,
capturing 1,200 prisoners and 52 field guns. Col. C. A.
L. Lamar, of General Cobb’s staff, was among the killed.
The Federal loss was 24 killed and wounded. The ram
Jackson, which had been built for the defense of the
Chattahoochee, now nearly ready for service, with an
armament of six 7-inch guns, was destroyed, as were also
the navy yard, foundries, arsenal, armory, sword and
pistol factory, shops, paper mills, cotton factories, 15
locomotives, 200 cars, and a large amount of cotton.

Wilson’s forces now took up the march from Columbus
for Macon, destroying much property en route and
wrecking the railroads. Within 13 miles of the city
they were met by Brigadier-General Robertson, of
Wheeler’s corps, under a flag of truce, bearing a letter
from Gen. Howell Cobb announcing an armistice between
Generals Johnston and Sherman. Before General Wilson
could reach the front to make investigation, Colonel White
dashed into the city and received its surrender, although
General Cobb protested that the Federal troops should
acknowledge the armistice. Generals Cobb, G. W. Smith

384 CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

and Mackall and the garrison were held as prisoners of
war. When informed of the armistice by Sherman, Gen¬
eral Wilson issued the necessary orders to carry it into
effect, and General Cobb gave every assistance in his
power in the collection of supplies for the large Federal
command, before any terms of capitulation had been
made known to either of the generals commanding. On
April 30th Wilson received notice of the final capitulation
of the Confederate forces east of the Chattahoochee by
General Johnston, and was directed to resume hostilities
and capture the Confederate States officials about to
enter or make their way through the State. For this
purpose the various brigades were disposed throughout
the State. General Upton, who was ordered to Augusta,
caused the arrest of Vice-President Stephens, Secretary
Mallory and Senator Hill.

President Davis arrived at Washington, Ga. , the home
of Gen. Robert Toombs, May 4, 1865, and remained there
about thirty-six hours. His family was with him, consist¬
ing of Mrs. Davis and four children, accompanied by her
sister, Miss Howell, and Midshipman Howell, her brother.
General Bragg, Gen. I. M. St. John, Gen. A, R. Lawton,
Postmaster-General John H. Reagan, General Breckin¬
ridge, secretary of war, and a considerable number of
other Confederate officials and officers, also arrived at
Washington. On the 5th this party, the last represent¬
atives of the Confederate States government, separated,
General Reagan alone accompanying the President in a
westward direction. At Irwin’s cross-roads and at Dublin
they were threatened by strolling bands, but escaped
danger. At daylight on the morning of May 10th, a de¬
tachment of Michigan cavalry, under Lieutenant-Colonel
Pritchard, striving to cut off the party in advance, col¬
lided with a body of Wisconsin cavalry under Lieutenant-
Colonel Harnden, which was in pursuit, and before there
could be a mutual recognition, several Federal soldiers
were killed by their comrades. At the same time Pres-

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

385

ident Davis was discovered, and he and his entire party
were made prisoners. Those captured were the Presi¬
dent, Mrs. Davis and children, Miss Howell, waiting-
maids and servants, Postmaster-General Reagan, Col.
Burton N. Harrison, the President’s secretary, Colonels
Lubbock and Johnston, aides-de-camp to the President,
four subordinate officers and thirteen private soldiers.
No attempt at resistance was made.

The South had failed in the heroic fight for separate
independence. Georgia’s gallant sons, who had so grandly
illustrated their State on the many battlefields of the four
5Tears’ conflict, wasted no time in idle repining over a lost
cause and ruined fortunes. With patience, industry and
the same indomitable spirit displayed by them on many
a bloody field, they faced the adverse circumstances that
confronted them, and bravely went to work to repair the
desolation wrought by war. How well they have suc¬
ceeded is evinced by the proud position which Georgia
occupies in the restored Union.

In the late war with Spain, the sons of Confederates
responded with enthusiasm to the country’s call, and Maj. -
Gen. Joseph Wheeler, the renowned Confederate cavalry
leader, twined new laurels around the brows of Georgia
and Alabama, his native and adopted States.

Ga 49

— .i » « -

. Routes of Si/er marts Army Nov.-Dee., 1364
.mison’s Raid M(irch.-Ajyril \ 1365

BIOGRAPHICAL

387

MAJOR-GENERALS AND BRIGADIER-GENERALS, PRO¬
VISIONAL ARMY OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES,
ACCREDITED TO GEORGIA.

Brigadier-General E. Porter Alexander, a native of
Georgia, was appointed to the United States military
academy from that State, and was graduated in 1857 as
brevet second lieutenant, corps of engineers. He served
at West Point as assistant instructor in practical military
engineering from October, 1857, to March, 1858, when
he went on duty in the field with the Utah expedition.
Returning to the military academy near the close of 1858,
he remained until i860, first as assistant instructor, next
as assistant professor of engineering, then as instructor
in the use of small-arms, military gymnastics, etc., and
finally was attached to a company of engineer troops at
West Point. Afterward he was a member of the board
for the trial of small-arms, and assistant engineer in the
construction of the defenses at Alcatraz island, San
Francisco harbor. In 1861, when it became evident that
war could not be avoided, Lieutenant Alexander resigned
his commission in the army of the United States, and on
April 3d entered that of the Confederate States as cap¬
tain of engineers. He was on the staff of General Beau¬
regard as engineer and chief of signal service from July
1st to August, 1861, acting in this capacity at the first
battle of Manassas. Subsequently, until November 8,
1862, he was chief of ordnance of the army of Northern
Virginia. He was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of
artillery in December, 1861, and colonel of artillery in
December, 1862. From November 8, 1862, to February
26, 1864, he commanded a battalion of artillery of Long-
street’s corps, composed of the batteries of Eubanks,
Jordan, Moody, Parker, Rhett and Woolfolk. At Fred-

389

390

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

ericksburg he so arranged the artillery of Longstreet’s
corps as to sweep every approach to Marye’s hill. To
General Longstreet he remarked, “We cover that ground
so well that we will comb it as with a fine tooth comb. A
chicken could not live on that field when we open on it. ’ ’
The artillery did do fearful execution on the dense masses
of Federal troops who tried to carry that position. At
Chancellorsville he was present in command of his bat¬
talion of artillery. At Gettysburg he commanded the
reserve artillery of Longstreet’s corps, and with his bat¬
talion prepared the way for Pickett’s great charge on the
third day of that fateful battle. When Longstreet went
to Georgia in September, 1863, Colonel Alexander was
with his forces, but did not reach Chickamauga in time
to take part in the battle. He acted as chief of artillery
for Longstreet in the Knoxville campaign, and in subse¬
quent movements in east Tennessee until ordered back
to Virginia. On February 26, 1864, he was commissioned
brigadier-general, and he served as chief of artillery of
Longstreet’s corps until the surrender at Appomattox,
participating in the battles of the Overland campaign,
and in those of the long protracted siege of Richmond.
After the war he was professor of mathematics and of
civil and military engineering in the university of South
Carolina from January, 1866, to October, 1869, and presi¬
dent of the Columbia oil company from October, 1869, to
May, 1871. He then began a successful career in rail¬
road management, as superintendent of the Charlotte,
Columbia & Augusta railroad until October, 1871; as
president of the Savannah & Memphis railroad company
until 1875, and subsequently as president and general
manager of the Western railroad of Alabama, and of the
Georgia railroad and banking company. He was vice-
president of the Louisville & Nashville railroad, 1880-82,
capital commissioner of the State of Georgia, 1883-88,
and from 1887 to 1893 president of the Central railroad
and banking company and Ocean steamship company.

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

391

He is the author of a treatise on “Railway Practice,’’ and
historical papers, such as “The Great Charge and Artil¬
lery Fighting at Gettysburg,’’ and “Longstreet at Knox¬
ville.’’

Brigadier- General George T. Anderson is a native of
Georgia and before the war was a man of considerable
property. He did not have the advantage of a military
training at West Point, but did acquire practical knowl¬
edge of warlike affairs during the conflict with Mexico,
where he served as a captain. When the Eleventh Georgia
regiment was organized in 1861, he was elected its colonel
and went with his regiment to Virginia. During the
Seven Days’ battles around Richmond, he led a brigade
consisting of his own regiment, the First regulars,
Eighth, Ninth and Eleventh Georgia, and was engaged
in all the operations of Magruder’s command during
those eventful days. Speaking of the battle of Malvern
Hill, Gen. D. H. Hill says: “I never saw anything more
grandly heroic than the advance after sunset of the nine
brigades under Magruder’s orders.’’ Still holding the
rank of colonel, he led this brigade through the fiery
ordeals of Second Manassas and Sharpsburg, conducting
himself with such gallantry and showing such skill in the
handling of his troops that on the ist of November, 1862,
he received the commission of brigadier-general, the
duties of which position he had performed so faithfully
throughout the year. The next battle in which he was
engaged was at Fredericksburg. At the time of the bat¬
tle of Chancellorsville, he was with Longstreet in south¬
east Virginia. In the desperate struggle for the posses¬
sion of Round Top on the afternoon of July 2, 1863, at
Gettysburg, more than 2,000 officers and men of Hood’s
division were killed or wounded, and among the severely
wounded were Generals Hood and G. T. Anderson. In
September following he had sufficiently recovered to go
with Longstreet to the assistance of Bragg in north

392

CONFEDERA TE MI LIT A R V MIS TOR Y.

Georgia, and after the investment of Chattanooga he and
his brigade marched under Longstreet into east Tennessee
and took part in the siege of the city of Knoxville and the
assault upon the Federal works. Here Anderson’s bri¬
gade was again called upon for desperate fighting.
True to its record, it bravely seconded the efforts of the
commanding general, adding to its already brilliant rep¬
utation. In the second day of the battle of the Wilder¬
ness, Anderson’s was one of the four brigades under
Mahone which attacked the Federal left wing in flank and
rear, and rolled it up in confusion toward the plank road
and then back upon the Brock road. At Spottsylvania
and Cold Harbor and throughout the protracted struggle
around Richmond, Anderson and his brigade continued
their faithful and heroic work. He was in Field’s division
of Longstreet’s corps in the final scene at Appomattox
Court House. After the return of peace, General Ander¬
son returned to Georgia and served in several important
official stations. For awhile he was local freight
agent of the Georgia railroad at Atlanta. He became
chief of police of that city and brought the force to a
high state of efficiency. He afterward moved to Annis¬
ton, Ala., where he resided in 1898.

Brigadier-General Robert H. Anderson was bom in the
city of Savannah, October 1, 1835. He received his early
education in the schools of his native city, and entered
the United States military academy, where he was grad¬
uated in 1857 as brevet second lieutenant of infantry. In
December of the same year he was promoted to second
lieutenant of the Ninth infantry. He served at Fort
Columbus, N. Y., in 1857-58, and on frontier duty at Fort
Walla Walla, Wash., from 1858 to 1861. The great sec¬
tional quarrel between the North and South culminated
while he was absent on leave. Imbued with all the sen¬
timents of the people of the South, and believing that his
paramount allegiance was due to his State, he resigned

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY, \

393

his commission in the United States army and offered his
services to the new Confederacy, of which his State had
become a member. He was immediately appointed first
lieutenant of artillery, his commission dating from March
x 6, 1 86 1. In September he was promoted to the rank of
major and was acting adjutant-general of troops on the
Georgia coast. June 30, 1862, he was still on the Georgia
coast as major of the First battalion Georgia sharp¬
shooters. This command was brought by him and its
other officers to a high state of discipline and efficiency.
In February and March, 1863, he won general attention
and commendation by his plucky and successful defense
of Fort McAllister against the Federal monitors, in which
combat it was demonstrated that Georgia gunners behind
sand embankments were more than a match for the new
and much vaunted revolving ironclads. Major Anderson
had been promoted to the rank of colonel of the Fifth
Georgia cavalry on January 20, 1863, and commanded the
troops in the neighborhood of Fort McAllister. General
Beauregard in his official report to the war department,
commended very highly the conduct of officers and men
engaged in this affair. The Fifth cavalry was transferred
to the army of Tennessee before the opening of the
Atlanta campaign of 1864, and assigned to the brigade of
Gen. W. W. Allen, composed of the Georgia cavalry
regiments known as the Third, Eighth, Tenth and
Twelfth Confederate. Of this brigade, including the
Fifth, Colonel Anderson was soon in command, and on
July 26th he was commissioned brigadier-general. This
gallant brigade and Dibrell’s composed Kelly’s division,
one among the very best divisions of Wheeler’s splendid
cavalry corps, which followed the fortunes of the army
of Tennessee to the surrender near Durham’s Station in
North Carolina, April 26, 1865. At the close of the war
General Anderson returned to Savannah, and was chief
of police of that city from 1867 to his death, February 8,
1888. He was a member of the board of visitors to the

Ga50

394

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

United States military academy in 1879 and 1887. He
had as well drilled and disciplined a body of police as
could be found in any city of the Union.

Brigadier-General Francis S. Bartow, a native of Geor¬
gia, was at the beginning of the war a prominent lawyer
of Savannah and recognized as one of the leading mem¬
bers of the Georgia legislature. Of high social standing
and great personal magnetism, he was a rising man in
Georgia politics, and could have held prominent positions
in the councils of the Confederacy had he not chosen
service in the field. He was a member of the provisional
Congress which met at Montgomery, February 4, 1861,
and at its second session he was chairman of the military
committee. He was also captain of a volunteer company
in the city of Savannah, known as the Oglethorpe infantry,
which had been organized in 1856 and consisted almost
entirely of sons of the old and honored families of the city.
A detail from this popular company formed part of
the detachment that under the orders of Governor Brown
had seized Fort Pulaski near the mouth of the Savannah
river before the secession of the State of Georgia. Cap¬
tain Bartow was in communication with his company, and
as soon as the act authorizing war troops was passed, he
informed his company of the fact by telegraph. A meet¬
ing of the “Oglethorpes” was promptly called, and amid
the wildest enthusiasm a resolution passed tendering
their services to the Confederate President for the war.
The tender was immediately flashed over the wires and
as promptly accepted. This company is claimed to have
been the first in the Confederate States that offered its
services for the entire war. It was attached to the
Eighth Georgia regiment, of which Bartow was elected
colonel ; was ordered to Virginia, and beginning with the
First Manassas, it went through the greatest battles of
the most stupendous conflict of modern times. The
“Oglethorpes” left for Virginia on May 21, 1861,

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

395

escorted to the train by all the military organizations of
the city and by an immense throng of citizens, amid the
thundering salutes of artillery. The fact that their cap¬
tain was so prominent a member of the Confederate Con¬
gress and such an eminent Georgian, gave special eclat to
him and his company. They carried off with them their
arms belonging to the State, and the fact that this was
done without the consent of the executive of Georgia, led
to some sharp correspondence between Governor Brown
and Captain Bartow. It was in one of these communi¬
cations that Bartow uttered the memorable saying, “I go
to illustrate Georgia. ’ ’ And he did illustrate his native
State gloriously on the field of Manassas, where he
poured out his life’s blood for the cause of the South.
General Beauregard, after describing the final charge at
Manassas, which swept the Federals from the Henry
house plateau, securing to the Confederates full posses¬
sion of the field, says: “This handsome work, which
broke the Federal fortunes of the day, was done, how¬
ever, at severe cost. The soldierly Bee and the impetu¬
ous Bartow, whose day of strong deeds was about to close
with such credit, fell a few rods back of the Henry house,
near the very spot whence in the morning they had
looked forth upon Evans’ struggle with the enemy.’’
Beauregard, in his official report, speaking of the death
of General Bartow, Colonel Fisher and Lieutenant-Col¬
onel Johnson, says that they, “in the fearless command
of their men, gave earnest of great usefulness to the
service had they been spared to complete a career so
brilliantly begun.”

Brigadier- General Henry Lewis Benning was born in
Columbia county, Ga. , April 2, 1814. After thorough
preparation in the best schools of his native State, he
entered the university of Georgia, at Athens, in August,
1831, where he was graduated in August, 1834, being
awarded the first honors in a class noted for men of emi-

396

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

nence and distinction in after life. In September of the
same year he began the study of law at Talbotton, in
the office of George W. Towns, afterward a member of
Congress and governor of the State, and was admitted
to the bar in May, 1835, at Columbus, where he then
made his home. Being a young man of fine intellectual
endowments, honorable ambition, and the most indefat¬
igable industry, he quickly began to rise in the profession.
In 1837 he was appointed by Governor McDonald, solic¬
itor-general of the Chattahoochee circuit to fill a vacancy,
and in 1838 was elected by the general assembly for a
full term of four years. Upon his marriage in the fall of
the next year with Mary Howard, only daughter of Col.
Seaborn Jones, a very eminent lawyer of Columbus, he
resigned his position and formed a partnership with Col¬
onel Jones in the practice of law. In 1850, he and Martin
J. Crawford and James N. Ramsey were delegates to the
Southern convention at Nashville, Tenn. In the fall of
1853, when less than forty years of age, he was elected
one of the justices of the Supreme court of Georgia, a
position he held for the full term of six years. His
decisions are noted for clearness, ability and loyalty to
the best settled legal principles. “He was a man of
absolutely crystal truth. He had a candor and directness
proverbial. He spoke with a low, guttural tone and a
syllabic precision, that heightened the idea of his manly
force of character. He was able to take unpopular posi¬
tions without loss of respect, so strong was the confidence
in his sincerity. ’’ In December, i860, he was elected by
the people of his county a member of the convention of
Georgia, which adopted the ordinance of secession, and
he was an earnest and able advocate of that measure.
He was sent as commissioner to the Virginia convention
in January, 1861. In a speech of great zeal, ability and
eloquence, he urged upon that body the adoption of a
similar ordinance. In August, 1861, he entered the Con¬
federate service as colonel of the Seventeenth Georgia

Brig.-Gen. Geo. Tnos. Anderson. Brig.-Gen. W. M. Gardner.

Brig -Gen Francis S. Bartow. Brig.-Gen. Goode Bryan. Brig.-Gen. Geo. Doles.

Brig -Gen W R. Boggs. Brig.-Gen. R. H. Anderson. Brig.-Gen. Alfred Cumming.

Brig.-Gen. V. J. B. Girardey. Brig.-Gen. Philip Cook.

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

397

regiment, and for some time was in command of Toombs’
brigade of the army in Virginia. In little more than a
year from his enlistment he was promoted to brigadier-
general, and he was frequently in command of Hood’s
famous division of the First corps, participating with
gallantry in the battles of Second Manassas, Sharpsburg,
Fredericksburg, Chickamauga, Wilderness, Thorough¬
fare Gap, Malvern Hill, Lookout Valley, Fort Loudon,
Knoxville, Petersburg, Farmville and other bloody
engagements.* He was greatly distinguished for cool¬
ness and daring, and particularly for a sturdy steadfast¬
ness, which won for him the admiring title of “Old
Rock. ” In the second day’s fight at the Wilderness he
was severely wounded through the shoulder. He was in
command of his Georgia brigade at the surrender of Gen¬
eral Lee’s army, and though greatly reduced in numbers,
it was in fine discipline and ready for duty, “all present
or accounted for.’’ At the close of the war he returned
to Columbus and resumed the practice of his profession,
which was large and lucrative. During the remainder of
his life he was as loyal to his oath of allegiance as he had
been true to his convictions of right and his sense of
duty in espousing the Confederate cause. General Ben-
ning was one of Nature’s noblemen, formed in her very
finest mould and most lavish prodigality. As an attor¬
ney he was open, candid and fair; as a jurist, spotless
and impartial ; as a warrior and patriot, brave, disinter¬
ested and sincere ; and as a man and citizen, his whole
life produced in those who knew him the constant vibra¬
tion of those chords which answer to all that is true and
noble and generous and manly. He was a fine specimen

* Col. James W. Waddell, of the Twentieth Georgia, states in a
touching and eloquent tribute to his friend and old commander that
“Later on in the war he rose to the rank of major-general. Among
the last official autographs of John C. Breckinridge was his signa¬
ture, as secretary of war, to Benning’s commission. Alas ! both of
them have crossed over the river now, but it is a consolation to
believe that neither wars nor rumors of wars are known or heard of
beyond its banks. ’ ’

398

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

of physical manhood, quite six feet tall, of noble pres¬
ence and bearing. After a short and sudden illness he
died on July io, 1875. His wife had died on June 28, 1868.

Brigadier-General William R. Boggs was born in
Georgia, was appointed to the United States military
academy in 1849, and upon graduation four years later
entered the army as brevet second lieutenant, topograph¬
ical engineers. After serving on artillery duty at the
academy in 1853, he was in the topographical bureau of
the Pacific railroad surveys until transferred to the ord¬
nance corps. He was made second lieutenant of ordnance
in 1854, and first lieutenant in 1856. Being stationed in
Louisiana and Texas, he participated in the combat with
Cortina’s Mexican marauders near Fort Broome, in
December, 1859. When Georgia seceded from the Union
he resigned his commission in the army of the United
States, and was appointed captain, corps of engineers,
C. S. A. His first service was at Charleston, S. C.
Early in March, at the call of the governor of Georgia,
Captain Boggs and Major Whiting were sent to Savan¬
nah, and General Beauregard, regretting the loss of these
“two most reliable and efficient officers,’’ earnestly
requested their immediate return or the assignment of
others of equal ability. In April, Captain Boggs was sent
to the assistance of Bragg at Pensacola. His skill in
mounting artillery on fortifications was highly praised by
both Beauregard and Bragg. He was warmly com¬
mended by General Bragg, in his report of the fight on
Santa Rosa island, for the “close reconnoissances on
which the expedition was based, and the secret and com¬
plete organization which insured its success. ” General
Bragg, in a letter to Richmond in October, named Cap¬
tain Boggs among others from whom the President might
select two brigadiers. On December 21st Captain Boggs
resigned his position in the Confederate army to accept
that of chief engineer of the State of Georgia, but at the

CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY.

399

request of General Pemberton he acted under the orders
of that officer at various points in Georgia and Florida.
On November 4, 1862, he was commissioned brigadier-
general. He accompanied Gen. E. Kirby Smith to the
Trans- Mississippi department, where he acted as chief of
staff to the close of the war. Subsequently he was
architect at Savannah, from 1868 to 1870 chief engineer
of the Lexington & St. Louis railroad, thence until 1875
civil and mining engineer at St. Louis. Since 1875 he
has been professor of mechanics and drawing at t